FUN ONLY JUST BEGINNING FOR TALENTED TAYLOR
SHE’S one of the rising stars of the pool but Laura Taylor will swap swim goggles for a surf cap next week when she competes at the Australian surf lifesaving titles in Perth.
Taylor could be dubbed Mademoiselle Butterfly after her silver medal-winning efforts at these Games.
Despite being flattened by root canal surgery on a bothersome tooth just days ahead of her Games debut, Taylor showed the form that she hopes will eventually propel her to Olympic gold and a spot as Australia’s new Madam Butterfly.
Swimming may be Taylor’s focus but surf is her escape and the Northcliffe clubbie has maintained her patrol hours during her gruelling training schedule to ensure she remains eligible for that sport’s biggest event.
“(Northcliffe) gave me a call maybe a week before Comm Games and said: ‘Are you sure you don’t want to come’?” Taylor said.
“I texted (coach) Chris (Nesbit) and he was all for it. Surf’s a bit of a fun thing to do. It’s not really a big focus of mine but when I get to do it, I love it.” Taylor will take part in the under-19 and open surf race and surf teams events.
“I’m glad I get to compete, it should be good,” she said.
While most athletes are keen for an immediate break, Taylor will extend her schedule, heading to Sydney following the Aussies to take part in the national age swimming titles.