Olympic swim greats tipped to be ready for LA Games
Roger Vaughan |
Battered by illness and injury, a trio of Australian Olympic swimming stars are being backed to be ready for Los Angeles.
Between them, Kaylee McKeown, Mollie O’Callaghan and Kyle Chalmers have won 11 Olympic gold medals.
McKeown returned to competition over the weekend at the inaugural Swim GP in Melbourne, having not raced since last year because of glandular fever.
Chalmers was poolside at the event, in the midst of a six-week break from swimming as he manages his long-term back problems.
O’Callaghan, who nursed back and shoulder injuries through the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, was a late withdrawal from the Swim GP because of a skin infection.
McKeown said the one positive of her illness is that it had happened this year, not next. Australian swimming head coach Rohan Taylor echoed that sentiment about the three stars in the context of the four-year Olympic cycle.
“No-one will remember what happens in 2026 (in terms of injury or illness). You can’t worry about that now,” Taylor told AAP.
“You have to get them right, you have to remember their talent won’t go anywhere.
“It’s about getting them healthy and then letting the fitness build. We know they can race and we just have to ourselves to the arena fit and healthy – then we will be right.”
McKeown made a successful return to racing at the Swim GP and Taylor is pleased with the backstroke queen’s progress after the illness knocked her flat.
“I live on the Sunshine Coast, so I get to see it up close and see the progression,” Taylor said
“It’s really good to see her back racing – she’s such a competitor.
“She just looked back to her normal self, competitive, focused when the race was on, but enjoying herself.
“She just has to build momentum back.”
Taylor was heavily involved in the creation of Swim GP, a made-for-TV event that aims to boost swimming’s profile.
Saturday night’s session was sold out and Taylor said it gave crucial exposure to swimmers ahead of major events.
“The big thing is the team connection. It’s really important that get that exposure, before they come into the Dolphins – who are very tight-knit,” he said
“It’s the chaotic nature that’s really important. That’s what the Olympics are like, and obviously amplifying the crowds.”
Lani Pallister swam close to her personal best in the 400m freestyle, ahead of next month’s world short-course championships in Beijing.
“World short course is is an absolute stepping stone to LA. About 80 per cent of the swimmers who will be on the Olympic team, will be on this team,” Taylor said.
AAP