Michael Bohl admits Stephanie Rice will not be in full form for Australian Selection Trials
Michael Bohl, coach of Australia’s one of the greatest female stars, Stephanie Rice, has admitted that his swimmer will not be fully fit for next month’s Australian Selection Trials for the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Bohl expressed that Rice has been doing everything to elevate her pace before the Australian Trials, but unfortunately, she will not be 100 percent for the Olympic trials.
The triple Olympic gold medallist, Stephanie Rice went into a shoulder surgery last December, due to which her training program was interrupted. Nevertheless, the 23-year-old Australian star competed in the 200m Individual Medley (IM) and 400m IM at the New South Wales (NSW) State Open Championships, last week.
Rice, who captured gold medals in the 200m IM and 400m IM at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, failed to defend her national titles at the NSW meet but despite of her recent recovery, she seized silver medals in both disciplines.
She also grabbed two silver medals in the 200m IM and 4*100m medley relay while secured a bronze finish in the 400m IM at the 2009 Rome World Championships. Recently, she occupied bronze medals of the 400m IM and 4*100m medley relay at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai.
Rice was going right on track when she suffered a shoulder injury, for which, she had to undergo a surgery. After her recovery, Bohl was happy to see his talented swimmer in the pool once again. He was contented with her eye-catching performance at the tree-day NSW event but affirmed that she has a lot to achieve for the upcoming trials.
“She is doing everything she possibly can to get herself in the best shape she possibly can, because she knows if she doesn't swim the trials she is not going to get picked because her name is Stephanie Rice and she is the world record holder,” Bohl said.
The Australian Selection Trials are starting from March 15 in Adelaide and will conclude after seven days on March 22. Rice has almost one month left to prove her qualification into the Australian team but she needs to get better, if she wants to defend her titles at the upcoming Olympics.
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