Stephanie Rice all set to take part in the NSW State Open Championships – Swimming News
Three-time Olympic gold medallist, Stephanie Rice has recovered from her shoulder surgery and is all set to compete at the 2012 New South Wales (NSW) State Open Championships in Sydney from February 10 to 12.
The 23-year-old Rice suffered a shoulder injury last December and as a consequence, it halted her preparations for the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Rice won gold medals in the events of 200m Individual Medley (IM), 400m IM and 4*200m freestyle relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The following year, she captured two silver medals in the 200m IM and 4*100m medley relay while she seized a bronze finish in the 400m IM at the 2009 World Championships in Rome.
Recently, she accomplished bronze medals in the 400m IM and 4*100m medley discipline at the 2011 Shanghai World Championships.
Now, one of the greatest Australian swimmers, Rice has been scheduled to prove her mettle in 200m IM, 400m IM, 100m butterfly and 200m freestyle. Her mentor, Michael Bohl believes that Sydney meet is a wonderful opportunity for the Olympic champion to get back on track.
While talking to AAP, Bohl said, “She's not going to swim just for the sake of swimming. If her shoulder's a little bit tight after the 400m medley, we'll just make a decision day-by-day. We'll just see how it goes.”
Bohl claimed that Rice has been doing very well in her training program and suffered just slight ache in her shoulder.
“She's got to get a really good last five weeks (of preparation) in so we're not going to go and swim in five or six races and come back and be no good for two weeks. We're not going to take that gamble,” Bohl added.
With just five weeks left in Australian Selection Trials for the Olympic Games, Bohl articulated that Rice would have to undergo an exhausting swimming schedule to ensure her place in the Australian squad.
Nevertheless, Bohl was certain of Rice’s blistering performance at this week’s competition. He also said that how Rice performs in the Sydney’s event would largely depict her chances of getting qualified for the forthcoming Olympics.
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