There has been a lot of chatter going on about the top swimmers in Queensland of late, and most of it has centered upon Stephanie Rice, her recent shoulder surgery, as well as her breakup with high-profile rugby star Quade Cooper.
But another big name has moved into town, and that is Leisel Jones, one of Australia’s great all-time Olympians and without question the country’s greatest breaststroker. Jones has moved from Melbourne, where she’s trained for the past four years, to Brisbane in part to be closer to family and in part to work with Rice’s training group under coach Michael Bohl.
Jones is a serious medal contender in the 100 breaststroke at the Olympics as well as the 200 breaststroke if she decides to add it back to her schedule (she dropped it at Worlds).
Meanwhile, Rice seems to be doing very well after her latest string of challenges. She has side-stepped recent reports that she intended to retire after the 2012 London Olympics, saying that there’s no way for her to be certain what will happen after London. She was also back in competition yesterday in a time trial, where she took on the challenge that is the 400 IM. No time results were readily available, but interpreting her Tweets, she seemed to feel well enough after the race.
Make that medal in the same individual event in four consecutive Olympics.
Jenny Thompson is credited with four medals in a row in the 4×100 Medley- 1992 Gold, 1996 Gold (prelims swim), 2000 Gold, 2004 Silver
^ I meant to write:
“she will be the first swimmer, man or women, to win a medal in the same event in 4 consecutive olympics.”
If Jones win 100 medal in London, she will be the first swimmer, man or women, to win a medal in 4 consecutive olympics.
Forget about her being australia’s greatest breaststroker, she is arguably world’s greatest female breaststroker of all time.
Without question the countries’ greatest breastroker? Naturally I agree based on past results, but she seems to be dropping off over the past few years. Leiston Pickett is a contender for australia’s best breaststroker, if not better than Jones…
Guess I should’ve clarified that I meant “of all time”.