NO EASY ROAD
Our swimming champ’s new Games test
LEISTON Pickett is gunning for a third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal – but she’s likely to have to qualify outside her best event to get there.
Pickett, 26, has won the 50m breaststroke at the past two Games but with selection criteria favouring the Olympic distance of 100m, the Gold Coaster will have to wind back the clock to rediscover her best form in the two-lap race.
A London Olympian, Pickett has battled hip and groin injuries that are exacerbated by the kick motion in breaststroke. But she heads into next week’s Games trials at her home pool at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre injury free and hoping to seal a place on her third Games team.
“It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it and talking about it, just to get there would be an incredible achievement,” Pickett said.
“And to be able to defend my title would be an absolute dream come true.
“I’ve been posting some good times in training.
“I feel like and old duck, so to get in there and do a halfdecent time when I’m getting a bit older – they certainly are a lot more rare, so it’s good.”
Pickett won her first gold medal at just 18 in Delhi, beating her childhood hero Leisel Jones to the wall to win.
She backed that up in Glasgow four years ago, beating Jamaica’s former world shortcourse champion Alia Atkinson in the one-lap dash.
Pickett’s aim is now firmly on the 100m, the event in which she won Olympic selection in 20102.
“The criteria is working off the 100m. They did announce (a lower priority) for the 50s but for myself, I’m targeting the 100m,” she said.
“One of my goals as a swimmer has been to swim for Australia in a relay, so hopefully I can do that (on the Gold Coast).”
Pickett’s career has been “plagued” by injury but she’s hoping for a clear run into the Games.
The national titles will be held at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre from Wednesday to Saturday, March 3. Tickets are available from Ticketek.