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Kuala Lumpur for Olympic Elite - 2007/08/14 16:52
FUTURE OLYMPIANS HAVE NO FEAR AS BEIJING PREPARATION HOTS UP
KUALA LUMPUR (August 14): Australia's elite swimmers are getting down to business in the tropical Asian climate with the Olympic countdown clock well and truly ticking towards next year.
Twenty-nine of the country's Beijing hopefuls have settled into the Telstra Dolphins Australian team training camp in Kuala Lumpur en-route to Chiba for the four-day 2007 Japan International Swim Meet, starting August 21.
It will replicate the final Staging Camp for next year with the team honing their skills in the surrounds of the Malaysian Institute of Sport and the purpose built pool for the 1998 Commonwealth Games at Bukit Jalil.
Team Captain Grant Hackett, at 27, is the lone survivor from a golden era in the sport - an era which saw just one world record fall at those Games to Australia's 4x200m freestyle relay team of Daniel Kowalski, Michael Klim, Matthew Dunn and Ian Thorpe.
Now, almost a decade on a new generation is embarking on a journey which will see most of this group at the Games of the 29th Olympiad in Beijing.
One man who was in Kuala Lumpur in 1998 was the then Team Manager Alan Thompson, who has developed his own direction at the helm of Australia's premier Olympic sporting team.
Thompson - who has been part of Australia's last two Olympic campaigns, as manager of the team in Sydney and as a coach in Athens - is not leaving any stone unturned.
He has followed in the successful footsteps of Terry Buck, of Don Talbot and of Leigh Nugent and he knows that practice could well make things as perfect as they can be as he prepares his charges for their greatest ever challenge.
"It is important for us to utilise this as a dress rehearsal for next year; to test out the hotel, the pool, the surroundings, the level of comfort and to practice the flights and so on, as well as compete a year out from the Games," says Thompson, well versed in knowing the needs of Australia's highest profile Olympic athletes.
"It is a great opportunity for our guys to race in Asia at around the same time we are used to racing at a Pan Pacs or other major meets - 12 months out from Beijing.
"This is the first time we have had the bulk of our National team in Asia in their summer and our winter...I suppose the acclimatisation to a different location, the different weather is the key difference on this tour.
"When we move the team away, we want to create an environment that's as normal as possible....we want to change the least amount of things as possible."
Of the 29 athletes on this team; only 11 have Olympic experience; another 12 have been to the last one or two world championships and six are the latest products of the Swimming Australia's successful nursery.
Thompson is confident they will all be ready.
"(It's important) to expose everyone to the different things they will see over the next 12 months...they (the youngsters) are very adaptable...they learn very quickly...nothing much phases them...they have more experiences than they used to have.
"Having them come through the National Youth Program with Leigh Nugent puts them in a good position when they get on to the National team....they are quick learners; some have their coaches with them on this trip and the biggest thing is there is no fear - they are ready to attack and do their best.
"Whilst they respect everyone they race against they don't fear anyone they race against...and they are good qualities for good young men and women to have.
"It is Swimming Australia's aim to provide all the athletes and coaches with the opportunities they need now...they are comfortable with the program they have ahead of them, the plans they have ahead of them.
"We will learn from what we have done this time and we make the fine tuning adjustments (for the Beijing preparation)."
Thompson said the motivation in the group is high.
"Controlling the emotions and preparing well is the key," says the astute head coach.
"We talk a lot about the process in our sport and maintaining that process...it's important not to get too far ahead of ourselves…not to look at the prize...just make sure we look art the stepping stones...we'll get to the prize at the end."
With Thompson steering the ship then Australia's next crop of Olympic hopefuls are getting every opportunity to make a splash on the international stage.
TELSTRA DOLPHINS AUSTRALIAN SWIM TEAM LIST
MEN AGE CLUB STATE
Leith Brodie 21 Albany Creek QLD
Nick D'Arcy 20 Maroochydore QLD
Ashley Delaney 21 Nunawading VIC
Grant Hackett 27 Melbourne Vicentre VIC
Ephraim Hannant 19 Miami QLD
Andrew Lauterstein 20 Southport Olympic QLD
Andrew Mewing 25 Yeronga Park QLD
Kenrick Monk 19 SAC Seals NSW
Patrick Murphy 23 Melbourne Vicentre VIC
Travis Nederpelt 22 City of Perth WA
Kirk Palmer 20 Barker Aquatics NSW
Brenton Rickard 23 Brothers QLD
Christian Sprenger 21 Commercial QLD
Craig Stevens 27 SLC Aquadot NSW
Eamon Sullivan 21 West Coast WA
Matt Targett 21 Melbourne Vicentre VIC
WOMEN AGE CLUB STATE
Bronte Barratt 18 Albany Creek QLD
Cate Campbell 15 Indooroopilly SS QLD
Joanna Fargus 25 Commercial QLD
Leisel Jones 21 Carey Aquatic VIC
Lisbeth Lenton 22 Commercial QLD
Linda Mackenzie 23 Mackay QLD
Meagan Nay 18 St Peters Western QLD
Kylie Palmer 17 Albany Creek QLD
Shayne Reese 24 Carey Aquatic VIC
Stephanie Rice 19 St Peters Western QLD
Jessicah Schipper 20 Redcliffe Leagues Lawnton QLD
Melanie Schlanger 20 Commercial QLD
Emily Seebohm 15 Brothers QLD
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