London on Libby’s mind
Trickett almost certain of place in Aussie squad
ADELAIDE: Three-time Olympic gold medalist Libby Trickett could be the sole successful comeback story of the Australian swimming trials after earning the right tobe considered for a relay spot at the London Games by finishing fifth in the 100m freestyle.
Trickett, who needed to be in the top six, finished in 54.21 in Tuesday’s final.
Melanie Schlanger (53.85) and Cate Campbell (54.01) earned the individual spots on the Olympic team by finishing first and second. Yolane Kukla (54.08), Brittany Elmslie (54.08) and sixth-place Alicia Coutts (54.25) are also in contention for relay places.
Trickett won the 100m butterfly and was second in the 100m freestyle at the 2008 Olympics. She quit competitive swimming in 2009 and returned last year.
Five-time Olympic champion Ian Thorpe’s bid to qualify for the London Games after almost six years in retirement ended in disappointment when he failed to reach the final of the 100m or 200m freestyle. Former world record holder Michael Klim, also out of retirement, missed out in the 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly finals.
Trickett is almost certain to be included in the Australia squad when it is announced today.
“It’s unbelievable,” Trickett said. “This whole journey for me has been probably more challenging emotionally and spiritually and mentally than it has been physically. It’s hard to describe. I’m just so over the moon that I have the opportunity to represent my country at a third Olympic Games.”
In the 50m freestyle heats yesterday morning, Trickett was second-fastest in 25.12. Alexandra Purcell led the qualifiers in 25.05.
“It’s just nice to go out there andkind of freewheel a little bit,” Trickett said, admitting she felt some of the pressure was off after she’d put herself into position for relay selection in London.
Geoff Huegill’s comeback bid is still alive. On Tuesday night, he qualified for the 100m butterfly final in 52.57. Chris Wright was the fastest qualifier in 51.83, with Nick D’arcy (52.21), Matt Targett (52.31) and Sam Ashby (52.53) also progressing.
After narrowly missing the world record in the 100m freestyle, James “Missile” Magnussen followed up by leading the qualifiers into the final of the 50m freestyle.
He set a personal best of 21.87 in Tuesday’s semi-finals, followed by Eamon Sullivan in 21.88.
In the other men’s finals, 18-year-old Mitch Larkin (1:57.90) edged 19year-old Matson Lawson (1:58.32) to win the 200m backstroke title, while Daniel Tranter (1:58.19) and Jayden Hadler (1:58.99) qualified for London in the 200m individual medley.
In other women’s results, 18-yearold Tessa Wallace was a surprise winner in the 200m breaststroke, securing anolympic spot with a winning time of 2:26.31.
Sally Foster was second in 2:26.51, while Leisel Jones was fourth in the final. Jones earlier this week became the first Australian swimmer to qualify for four Olympics when she placed second in the 100m breaststroke final.