2013 was an interesting year for Danish swimming star Jeanette Ottesen. Still feeling disappointed with her performances at the Olympics in London she took time away from the pool and had made the decision that Barcelona would be her last competition.
After winning the 50 butterfly at the World Championships it got her thinking that retirement may not be such a good idea after all, “I think it was really great that I could win the World Championships because I had pretty much decided to stop my swimming career,” Ottesen told Jyllands-Posten.
“But then I got the urge again, and World Championship gold convinced me that I should continue my career . So it was a really great victory, which in many ways meant a lot to me.”
Ottesen then finished the year competing in Herning at the European Short Course Championships where she won individual medals in the 50 butterfly (silver) and the 100 butterfly (bronze).
She was also part of the world record setting Danish women’s 4 x 50 freestyle relay team. She was joined by Pernille Blume, Kelly Riber Rasmussen and Mie Nielsen, winning the event in Herning with a finishing time of 1:37.03.
Ottesen also put up best times in the majority of her main events throughout the year:
- 50 butterfly LCM – 25.24
- 50 butterfly SCM – 24.87
- 100 butterfly LCM – 57.19
Out of the water Ottesen and her husband Bobby Gray decided to part ways, something she admits effected her swimming, “It is clear that it will rub off on the swim when it does not work in marriage , but Bobby and I are still friends,” Ottesen told BT.dk.
She also told the publication that even though she had success in 2013 she was not satisfied with her performances and that she was focused and positive that she would be better at the 2014 European Championships in Berlin, “It’s been a little strange and not very fun year. But things have gone better for me than I expected, although I’m not 100 percent satisfied with the results.”
“I have no doubt that 2014 will be my year with the European Championships in Berlin as the highlight. Now I can concentrate more on the sport.”