Commonwealth Games Swimming - Australia, England, Canada to clash for gold’s
Swimming is going to act as a mainstay during the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, which has already suffered a couple of the high-profile withdrawals from a number of sports.
The six-day event starting from Monday will highlight a wide array of Olympic champions who will fight it out against a crop of rising challengers.
Australia will be the country to beat. The English contingent is expected to pose a direct threat to their expected hegemony over the games, especially in the women’s contests. On the other hand, a slowly resurgent Canada along with some experienced players
from South Africa and New Zealand are expected to make their mark as well.
The Australian side has captured 19 gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne 2006, stretching their lead to 53 gold medals in total in the mega event. The Aussies have dominated in this event ever since its debut with the British Empire Games in
1930.
Stephanie Rice, who is a triple Olympic gold medallist, is sitting out the event as a result of her injury. However, the 52 member team has found an appropriate substitute in the shape of Leisel Jones.
Jones, who is a three time Olympic winner and seven times Commonwealth gold medallist, took a break from the sport back in 2009 and appears to have returned with her form back.
She captured a total of three silvers and a bronze at the Pan Pacific competition earlier in August and is the current Commonwealth 50 meters, 100 meters as well as 200 meters breaststroke winner.
"The body and mind are both feeling really good. Having 2009 off international competition has allowed me to really freshen up not only physically, but more importantly, mentally,” said the twenty five year old at the team's practice camp.
At fifteen, Yolane Kukla, a school girl from Brisbane will register her name as the youngest female swimmer to make the Australian contingent since thirteen year old Jodie Clatworthy back in 1986.
The men's side includes Geoff Huegill, a veteran sprinter who is a five-times Commonwealth event gold medallist as well as Sydney Olympics 50 meters butterfly bronze medallist. He’s making a comeback to a major championship after a long break of three years.
Ashley Callus and Eamon Sullivan will be making the Commonwealth Games for the fourth time along with Brenton Rickard, a world 100 meters breaststroke winner.
The English contingent, which is second to Australia in terms of swimming medals in Melbourne with a total of eight gold, eleven silver and four bronze medals.
Spearheading England’s swimming squad include double-Olympic eight hundred meters and four hundred meters freestyle winner and world record holder Liam Tancock. She will be supported by Rebecca Adlington who is a fifty meter backstroke world record holder and
hundred meters backstroke Commonwealth winner.
Rebecca will have full support from Fran Halsall, fresh from capturing two gold, two silver as well as a bronze medal, with fellow medallists Lizzie Simmonds and Gemma Spofforth.
Halsall will be hoping to level the six-medal haul of Melanie Marshall back in Melbourne, which tied the record set by an English sportsman at a single event.
Other significant names include Welshman David Davies who triumphed in the 1,500 meters freestyle event along with David Carry from Scotland who is a 400 meters freestyle gold medallist in Melbourne, 2006.
The 27 member team from Canada goes into the event after an encouraging Pan Pacific Championship, in which they won a total of eleven medals, including 2 gold’s by Ryan Cochrane in the 1,500 and 800 meters freestyle.
The resurgent side also features Annamay Pierse who is the women's 200 meter breaststroke world record holder in Melbourne.
"I think that those who adapt the best to the environment and conditions will win the most medals at the Games," added Pierse.
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