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It is Pickett’s time to shine

With Australian breaststroke legend ‘Lethal’ Leisel Jones announcing her retirement in November the Australians will be looking to 20 year old Leiston Pickett as their new breaststroke hope.

At the 2012 Australian Olympic Trials Pickett ended Jones incredible 12 year streak of dominating the 100 breaststroke national title.

That actually wasn’t the first time she had beaten Jones, at 2010 Commonwealth Games Pickett won the 50 breaststroke with Jones finishing second.

Pickett still feels she has not truly beaten her idol, “I still feel as though I haven’t beaten her quite yet, even though I know I did last year,” told The Gold Coast.

“But I’ve got to beat her best time to say I’ve really beaten the best.”

After winning the 100 breaststroke at the trials in a time of 1:06.88 Pickett had a very disappointing Olympic performance, finishing 13th.

After the games Pickett underwent surgery on hip to repair a torn labrum. Now that she is back in the water she is excited to show her country that she is ready to be the top dog, “I can’t wait. I’ve been wanting it for so long, it’s what I’ve trained for,” Pickett told The Gold Coast.

“I’m pretty excited to get a really good block of training in, post some fast times before trials and get up there and try and prove and show to Australia that I am the best in the country.”

Pickett will make her return to major competition at the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series in Perth beginning on January 18th.

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About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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