Libby Trickett Falls Short in Initial Comeback Attempt

Yesterday, at the brand-new $100 million National Swim Center in Adelaide, Swimming Australia finalized their roster for this summer’s World Championships.

In what most viewed as the “Libby Trickett” rule, Swimming Australia head coach Leigh Nugent added these relay trials (on the eve of the short course National Championships at the same pool) after Libby Trickett had been back in the pool long enough to satisfy FINA drug-testers – a wait that expired earlier this month.

In her shot at a swim for the 400  free relay, Trickett finished a somewhat-disappointing 6th place in 55.68 seconds. While that’s not a bad time for her first real race back, under difficult circumstances, many fans in Australia were hoping that she would be more competitive in this race.

Still, Trickett seemed unphased. Like many of the other returnees that we’ve seen over the last few months, they didn’t make a comeback to qualify for the World Championships. In swimming, as much as we try to move away from it, it all comes down to that Olympic moment.

Trickett told reporters after the race that she felt good about the “execution” of her race, and that it even gave her a boost of confidence. And she has good reason to take the high-road here (though admitting she was disappointed in the result herself). After so much time out of the water, and so much more time off of racing, it must be a positive feeling to know that you can still achieve elite times.

As for those who did earn relay spots, defending 50-butterfly World Champions Marieke Guehrer took the women’s race in an effort of 54.29 –the 2nd-fastest swim by an Aussie woman this year, and 13th in the world. This gives a big shot in the arm to the Aussies, who are not as deep in this 100 free as they are in the 200 (whose trials will take place today at 10 AM Adelaide time).

She was well clear of the field, and specifically runner-up Sydneysider Ami Matsuo, who at only 14-years old swam a 55.11. She’s part of an impressive youth-movement in Australian Swimming that leaves things bright for the future.

In the men’s race, Kyle Richardson took the Shanghai spot in 48.89 (he needed a 48.95 and a win to earn selection). In much of a mirror to the women’s side, he easily bettered a field that featured a young swimmer (Cameron McEvoy-49.92) in 2nd-place.

Full Results from the time trial available here. Brenton Rickard and Leiston Pickett swam the race breaststroke, and Huegill did it butterfly.