Saturday November 21, 2009
More world records expected in Singapore
SINGAPORE: The final leg of the shortcourse swimming World Cup gets under way in Singapore today with expectations high that world records will fall.
Sixteen new marks were set in Berlin last weekend with the vast majority achieved by athletes wearing the high-tech swimsuits that will be banned from Jan 1.
It means Singapore will be one of the last times the controversial suits will be worn and swimmers will want to set more records with the impact of the new regulations on global swimming times yet to be known.
Fourteen-time Olympic gold-medal winner Michael Phelps, who flopped in Germany, has opted out of this weekend but top stars Leisel Jones, Eamon Sullivan, Aaron Peirsol and Lisbeth Trickett will be in action.
Breaststroke specialist Cameron van der Burgh of South Africa is another to watch after his performance in Germany when he broke two world records in the men’s 50m and 100m breaststroke.
Van der Burgh has been consistently performing well this season and will look to cap off his remarkable season with another strong display.
Fellow South African Darian Townsend, who beat Phelps in the 200m individual medley in Berlin with a new world record of 1:51.55, will also be in the hunt for more medals.
Australia’s 60-member contingent includes Jones, who holds the 100m breaststroke world record after clocking an astonishing 1:03.00.
“For the guys who have been in Europe on the World Cup already, they will be looking for continual improvement which many have already achieved in the series so far,” said Swimming Australia head coach Alan Thompson.
American Jessica Hardy, who posted a 28.80 to set a new world mark in the 50m breaststroke last weekend, will be Jones’ closest rival. — AFP
For another perspective from The Straits Times, a partner of Asia News Network, click here.
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