Aussieassault awaitsEnglish swimmers
RIVALRY INTHE POOL CAN SPICE UPTHE GAMES FROMFIRSTDAY
England’s swimmers are ready to fight fire with fire at the Commonwealth Games when they clash with a fearsome Australia team revved up by their home crowd.
The English, spearheaded by Olympic breaststroke champion Adam Peaty, expect a rude reception from the Australians when the competition begins tomorrow, but their swimming boss promised they will rise to the occasion.
“Australia are a powerhouse, they’re the team to beat,” team leader Grant Robins said in an interview. “They’re strong across pretty much all the events and have a production line of swimming quality.”
Hostile reception likely
“It’s going to be a hostile crowd,” added the former Commonwealth Games competitor. “We’ve said ‘ You’re going to walk out here and it’s going to be a hostile crowd’. We’ve said to the swimmers ‘ Stick to your game plan, soak up the atmosphere — but don’t be afraid of it!’ Itwill be fun and enjoyable, but tough.”
Australian athletes can be every bit as spiky as their crowds and the aggressive antics of their cricketers have sparked a public outcry following a recent balltampering scandal.
Aussie swimmers are no shrinking violets either, butRobins insisted therewould be “mutual respect” between the home team and their English rivals on the pool deck. “It’s a hard sport,” he said. “But once you get to the cool room ( before the race) there’s no limits, it’s every man for themselves.
Australian swimmers won 19 of the country’s 49 gold medals at the last Games in Glasgow in 2014 and, with home- pool advantage, they’re hoping to improve on thatmark.
Australia’s dominance has not been threatened at the pool since Edinburgh in 1986, but the aura around the team has faded slightly since it finished eighth on medal count at last year’s world championships in Budapest, winning just one gold — Emily Seebohm in the 200- meter backstroke.
There are five finals on the opening night yesterday and Australians are favoured in at least three of them.