Jordan’s fight back
Coast distance swimmer returns to pool for race fitness in quest to make Rio
AS the swimming world championships got under way in Kazan overnight, one of Australia’s brightest talents in the pool was continuing on the long road back to his best.
Jordan Harrison, 25, is at home, on the Gold Coast, working his way towards race fitness after a back injury impacted his performance at the Australian Swimming Championships in April.
The 2014 Commonwealth Games representative was treated for back spasms after he was defeated in the 1500m final by Mack Horton.
As he resumes swimming, Harrison admits he is more concerned about addressing the injury than what is happening at the worlds in Russia.
“This week’s just about seeing that my back’s 100 per cent,” he said.
“Not doing full sessions, just getting back into the water, getting a feel for it, seeing where I’m at. So far so good.
“Maybe next week I’ll start ramping up. All the guys are overseas and I want to try to be really fit by the time they get back and start getting back into it. I don’t want to be floundering around come September, October, November see- ing where I’m at, I want to be back into the full swing.”
Harrison, who trains with Denis Cotterell at the Miami club, said he still hoped to qualify for the Rio Olympics.
“I think I’ve been able to do what’s required before and I don’t think I could lose that desire or that knowledge of what’s required so quickly. “I’m not writing myself off.” Harrison says his next major meet could be the Queensland Titles or even the Australian Short Course Swimming Championships at Sydney’s Olympic Park Aquatic Centre in November.
Meanwhile, Gold Coast synchronised swimmer Bianca Hammett had the honour of carrying the flag for the Australian team at the opening ceremony for the world championships last night.
It was just reward for the dual-Olympian from the Gold Coast Mermaids squad, who will captain the synchronised team in Kazan. Australia’s open water swim team will be in action today for the 5km world championship with the Coast’s Jess Walker in the women’s race. Sam Shepherd, who moved to the Coast last year, is in the men’s race.
‘‘ This week’s just about seeing that my back’s 100 per cent JORDAN HARRISON