Maddy goes for distance

Dolphins rookie gunning at return trip to Tokyo

SHE’S the Australian team rookie content to fly under the radar into her first major international championship but Madeleine Gough could be the swimmer in the spotlight the next time she is in Tokyo.

The 19-year-old has stripped almost 30 seconds from her best time in the 1500m freestyle in the past year to make the Dolphins team for the Tokyo Pan Pacs.

And with the distance event appearing on the women’s Olympic program for the first time in 2020, Gough is adamant her first trip to Tokyo for next week’s titles will be a mere taste of what is to come.

After winning the 1500m at the national age titles in a personal best 16min 19.45sec at the end of April, Gough stripped another 10sec from the mark at the Pan Pacific Championships trials in Adelaide earlier this month to make her first Australian team.

It’s an effort that has impressed Australian team director Jacco Verhaeren, who is thrilled to have a mix of rookies and experienced campaigners in the Dolphins side for the benchmark international meet of the year.

“It’s good to see quite a few youngsters stepping up,” Verhaeren said. “Maddy Gough, the rookie, there’s quite a few new faces at a very good level, so it’s exciting to have this mix two years out (from the Olympics) and that’s exactly what you want at this point.

“There’s a few we know already – Kaylee McKeown, Ariarne Titmus swam finals at the world championships – but also ones like Jack Cartwright, Elijah Winnington and Maddy Gough, so there’s quite a few exciting athletes and new athletes.

“These are the meets for them to step up because it’s very important they get the feel for preparing themselves at this time for peak performance.”

Gough also set a best time in the 800m at the national age titles but it’s the longer distance that interests her most.