Hackett juiced up for world champs

The Gold Coast’s Grant Hackett says he is happy with his preparation for the world swimming championships in Montreal in July.

The Olympic 1,500 metre freestyle champion will captain a new-look Australian team which includes 14 rookies.

Hackett is planning to also contest the shorter races like the 400m freestyle, but he says Ian Thorpe’s absence will not make it any easier to win.

“I mean, I’ve got Michael Phelps in the 400, I guess you could say replacing Ian Thorpe as the main sort of threat in that particular race,” he said.

“But it’s going to be very exciting and I’m looking forward to getting up and racing against the guys that were so close in Athens in that 1,500 metre freestyle, of course, and seeing how it evolves.”

Phelps’ threat to top Hackett

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AMERICAN superstar Michael Phelps believes he has the weapons at his disposal to upset Grant Hackett for the 400m freestyle crown at the world championships in Montreal in July.

Despite Olympic champion Ian Thorpe’s absence, this is likely to be the race of the championships as two of the stars of the sport face off for the first time in this event.

“It’s definitely going to be fast and exciting – almost like the 200m last summer (the “race of the century” between Thorpe, Phelps and Pieter van den Hoogenband at the Athens Olympics),” Phelps said.

“He’s swum and done that event for a long time so that’s going to be a challenge for me. It’s going to be a fast race and I guess it will take 3:42-3:43 to win it.”

Phelps’s best time is 3min46sec but he has no doubt that he can bridge the gap to Olympic silver medallist Hackett, who has a best time of 3:42.51.

“I think one of the things that has helped me this year has been the training group I have had (at Club Wolverine at the University of Michigan),” Phelps said. “For the first time, I have been swimming with freestylers everyday, every stroke and every lap. It’s a change and it’s a good change. I think that will definitely improve my freestyle.”

One of those freestylers, Klete Keller, took the bronze medal behind Thorpe and Hackett in the Athens 400m freestyle and stepped up to deny Australia the 4×200m freestyle gold medal by holding off Thorpe on the final leg.

Phelps, 19, moved from Baltimore to Ann Arbor, Michigan, with his coach Bob Bowman after winning six gold medals at the Olympics last year.

They have chosen to take on a freestyle-dominated competition program this year, including the 100m, 200m and 400m, as well as the 100m butterfly and 200m individual medley.

The 200m freestyle was the only individual event Phelps contested at the Olympics that he did not win, but he seems certain to claim that title in Montreal in the absence of Thorpe and van den Hoogenband, who announced on Friday he would skip the titles because of a recent hernia operation.

Phelps acknowledged the event would lose some excitement without the two men but said he would “still try and swim it as fast as I can”.

“The excitement level for the fans will be a little bit lower because Thorpe and van den Hoogenband are the two fastest ever in that event,” he conceded.

“But for me, an event is an event, it’s an opportunity to get in the water and race.”

Phelps closer to taking Thorpe’s crown

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Swimming superman Michael Phelps’ path to collecting Ian Thorpe’s 200m freestyle crown has been cleared.

The Thorpedo opened the door for the American superstar to win the four-lap event by skipping July’s world swimming championships in Montreal.

But it was Pieter van den Hoogenband’s decision this weekend to also miss the Canadian meet that firmed the Baltimore Bullet as the hot favourite for the event.

Thorpe has owned the 200m since being defeated by the Dutchman at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the pair finished 1-2 at last year’s Athens Games.

Phelps collected bronze on his way to eight medals and is expected to make a significant improvement as he shifts his focus more towards freestyle this year.

The 200m final in Greece was labelled the race of the century but Thorpe and van den Hoogenband’s unavailability for Canada has taken some gloss off the meet.

“It is the same with Ian not being there, it is very disappointing that we are not going to have the two fastest 200m freestylers in that field,” said Phelps.

“And the world record holder in the 100 metres (in van den Hoogenband) not there but everybody makes those decisions for a reason and we are going to have go along with that.”

The ultra-versatile American enjoys nothing more than a challenge as his decision to compete in the 200m freestyle final in Athens displayed.

He was higher ranked in the 200m backstroke but ditched that swim so he could race against Thorpe.

Phelps is showing his lust for a contest hasn’t weakened by adding the 400m freestyle to his Montreal program and a much-anticipated showdown with Grant Hackett.

The lanky Australian team captain is quicker on paper but the teenager’s phenomenal talent means it will be a highlight of the meet.

Phelps has the wood on Hackett in the 200m, which will only spur on the Queenslander to maintain his edge in the eight-lap event.

The University of Michigan student is like any other freshman, in that he is more than prepared to try a little experimentation.

He is dropping the 200m butterfly and the 400m individual medley for Montreal despite winning gold medals in both events in Athens.

“This year is just a year of trying to do different events and see where we stand, I have given the 200 fly and the 400m IM a rest for this summer and for the world championships,” he said.

Phelps is still tipped to match his Olympic feats, by winning six gold medals at the worlds, with the 100m and 400m freestyle the only events on his schedule likely to be beyond his long reach.

Emir backs New York’s 2012 Olympic bid

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LONDON (Reuters) - New York City notched another high-profile supporter for its bid to stage the 2012 Olympic Games when Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani endorsed their plans.

As the race to sign up supporters grows ever more frantic, New York organizers said the Emir’s support — expressed during a visit to city mayor Michael Bloomberg earlier this week — “reflects His Highness’ personal love of sport and his strong belief that New York will best promote worldwide sport and friendship.”

Qatar has one member on the International Olympic Committee which will vote for the 2012 host city on July 6 in Singapore.

New York is up against London, Madrid, Moscow and Paris in the race to stage the sports extravaganza.

Last month London pulled off a coup when former South African President and 1993 Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela came out in support.

“There is no city like London,” he said. “It is a wonderfully diverse and open city providing a home to hundreds of different nationalities from all over the world.

“I can’t think of a better place than London to hold an event that unites the world.”

SUPPORT LINE-UP

London also boasts a wealth of sporting greats in their support line-up including Australia’s Cathy Freeman and Grant Hackett.

Hacket’s swimming rival Ian Thorpe, however, has come out in support of New York.

Paris’s string of supporters is equally glittering, ranging from former New Zealand rugby international Jonah Lomu to English Premier League soccer players Robert Pires, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira of Arsenal and Chelsea’s Claude Makelele, William Gallas and Didier Drogba. The French capital also has Japanese international designer Issey Miyake and Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour in its camp.

Madrid boasts the support of a host of Spanish sportsmen as well as Mozambique Olympic champion Maria Mutola and Swedish Olympic high jump champion Stefan Holm while Florida-based, Siberian-born Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova is an international ambassador for Moscow.

Phelps ready for solo turn in world spotlight

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This summer, swimming’s world stage belongs to Michael Phelps — even if he has to build it himself.

The brilliant U.S. Olympic hero was in Montreal the past two days taking a look at the new facilities for the July 17 to 31 world aquatics championships, where he expects to cement his reputation as the planet’s best all-round swimmer. He witnessed the start of the Canadian trials for worlds, as the host country assembles new dreams on the ashes of a disappointing Athens Olympics.

The bottom line is, he was selling tickets for the Michael Phelps show. He will be the unrivalled star of the pool this year, a workhorse swimming in eight events — five individual swims and three relays.

Though Phelps captured six gold medals and two bronze last summer, somehow the spotlight was never his own. It was always pointed out that Mark Spitz had a record seven golds in Munich in 1972, or that Russian gymnast Alexander Dityatin already had set the standard of eight medals by a single athlete in 1980. And, on the night of the most anticipated race of the Olympics, the 200-metre freestyle, he swam the fastest time of his life only to finish third behind Australian Ian Thorpe and Pieter Van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands.

Thorpe and Van den Hoogenband congratulated each other. Phelps stayed in the pool watching the replay of the race. Leaving the pool deck, Phelps took another long look at the scoreboard and let it sear into memory.

This summer, he will rule the waves. Thorpe has elected to pass on the Montreal meet to conserve himself for next spring’s Commonwealth Games in Australia. Van den Hoogenband, a triple Olympic champion, is to undergo surgery on a hernia this morning. He wants to be in Montreal, but he’s 27 and coming off an operating table and says he won’t make the trip if he’s not at his best.

“I’m an athlete. A minor role doesn’t interest me. But I’ll be happy when I can move again,” he said.

Phelps and his major sponsor Speedo dived in like lifeguards to resuscitate the world championship event that almost sank to the bottom. The International Swimming Federation took the worlds away from Montreal in January because of a sponsorship shortfall and only reinstated the championships when the mayor guaranteed to cover the budget.

Uncertainty about the meet stalled ticket sales at about 15 per cent of the sales target before selling in earnest began last month. Phelps said in an interview yesterday that filling the house is a goal that goes hand-in-hand with the medals.

“A packed house is an excited house. I hope we can get a message across and 13,000 people are in the stands,” he said. “The faster I can swim, the more excited everyone will be. When you’re on a pace for a record and tiring, the crowd helps a lot to get you through it. I want to be remembered as one of the greatest swimmers ever, that would be fun.”

The absence of Thorpe won’t leave him without motivation. In the 400 freestyle, he’ll challenge Grant Hackett of Australia; in the 100, he’ll likely face Canadian champion Rick Say of Vancouver.

“Everyone has his own decisions. Ian Thorpe skipped for a reason. It may help him in long run and if it does, then sport will be more exciting in the long run. It’d be more exciting with him here, but we have good people here.”

The enormous workload of eight events doesn’t faze him.

“I like to race against the best, and when you have a few events, you have a chance of meeting the best more often,” he said. “It keeps me going, keeps my head on straight. The number of races I do will only help me. I’m not worried about burnout. What do you have to lose?”

Meanwhile, there was early sign of revival of Canada’s swim fortunes. Mike Brown of Calgary and Morgan Knabe of Victoria both beat the time standard in the men’s 100-metre breaststroke in the first preliminary session of the world trials at the Claude-Robillard Centre.

Montreal next stop for impressive Murphy

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ALBURY Olympian Patrick Murphy is on track for the World Championships after an impressive performance in the Grand Prix One series in Brisbane at the weekend.

Murphy finished second in the 100m freestyle with a time of 50.85s, behind Ashley Calluss 50.77s.

Murphy also showed his strength in the 200m freestyle event with Grant Hackett winning in 1:50.19.

He will replace Hackett in the 200m freestyle event in Montreal after finishing second in 1:51.54.

The championships run July 21-24.

The team will come together again for the Telstra Grand Prix Two meeting in Canberra on June 10-12 before heading to Orlando for a camp on July 7.

l The Commercial Club Winter Series continues to strengthen at the G.T. Aquatics Swim Centre with more swimmers turning up for the winter challenge.

Ted Woodbury has been on fire claiming the maximum 16 points for his efforts in the days competition with Phil Cosgrave gaining his momentum to snare 13.

Terry Sillet leads on the progressive points score ladder with a total of 28 points from Andrew Docker on 26, just ahead of Graham Dickie and Barclay Dowling on 23 points.

In the brace pairs relay events, husband and wife duo Andrew and Kerrie Docker retain their lead with six points over father and son team Graham and Brendan Dickie who are right on their tail with five points.

The series will continue on Sunday with the program being set for 200m choice events, 50m and 25m freestyle along with choice 25m events.

Olympic legend Kieren Perkins will hold a Learn To Swim clinic at North Albury on October 15.

The visit to the Border is part of a national tour with the champion also putting youngsters through their paces at Gladstone, Hobart, Darwin, Kalgoorlie and Alice Springs.

Bookings are a must and can be made at Qantas on 1300 732 290.

Hackett sharp at grand prix

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AUSTRALIAN swim team captain Grant Hackett stepped up preparations for this years world championships with a 400m freestyle victory at the Grand Prix meet in Brisbane.

Hackett looked sharp in his first hit-out since the Australian trials in March, posting a|time of 3 minutes, 52.33 seconds to easily account for fellow Queenslanders Nicholas Sprenger (4:01.31) and Cameron Smith (4:04.09).

Ashley Callus made an immediate impact during his return to the pool with a solid victory in the 100m freestyle with a time of 50.77s.

Albury swimmer Patrick Murphy was second with a time of 50.85s.

The meet is one of two grands prix being used as a warm-up to the Montreal championships in July by the Australian team under national coach Alan Thompson.

Hackett warms up for world contest

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AUSTRALIAN swim team captain Grant Hackett stepped up preparations for this year’s world championships with a 400m freestyle victory last night at the Telstra Grand Prix meet.

Hackett looked sharp in his first hit-out since the Australian trials in March, posting a time of 3min 52.33s to easily account for fellow Queenslanders Nicholas Sprenger (4:01.31) and Cameron Smith (4:04.09).

Hackett could come up against American whizkid Michael Phelps in the event during the championships in Montreal, Canada.

“I was really happy with those times,” said Hackett, who will race his pet event - the 1500m freestyle - tonight.

“I felt really strong in the 400, sort of just working at the back end of it and it worked really well.

“The 100 was a great time for me. Again the back end was an important thing to see how my endurance work was going and it was very encouraging.”

Olympic gold medallist Libby Lenton (1:59.49) was the only female swimmer to break the two minute barrier in the 200m freestyle and set a new personal best on her way to claiming the spoils.

She looked set to claim her second win of the night less than 15 minutes later in the 100m butterfly but was pipped at the wall by Jessicah Schipper (59.62s).

Lenton, 20, played the role of bridesmaid yet again in the 50m freestyle when Alice Mills (25.51s) edged her out by .02 of a second.

Hackett predicts Montreal magic from Australia

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Team captain Grant Hackett is predicting a bold showing by Australia’s swimmers at the World Championships in Montreal in July.

The 38-member team is competing in Brisbane tonight and tomorrow as it continues its preparations for Canada.

Hackett says there are some very talented swimmers on the team and he believes some will make their mark at the world titles.

“There’s the name like Leisel Jones, Libby Lenton, Jodie Henry, Alice Mills, you know, a few younger members of the male team such as Andrew Lauterstein,” he said.

“It’s going to be interesting to see how our relays get up, so it’s post-Olympic year, there could be a few weak events, and a few people could sneak up and do something quite incredible.”

Hackett himself is seeking a history-making fourth 1,500-metres freestyle world title and continues his preparations in Brisbane.

Tonight he will start in the 100 and 400 metres freestyle, and on Saturday morning he will compete in the 200 metres.

Hackett said he was fit and enjoying his swimming.

“I was really happy with the way I performed at the World Championship trials and now it’s just a matter of focusing on what I have to do to improve my fitness that little bit more and step up at the World Championships,” he said.

Meanwhile, swimmers have been given an added incentive for the “Duel in the Pool” between Australia and the United States in California, which begins two days after the World Championships.

Any swimmer setting a world record will earn a $25,000 bonus.

The United States won the first duel in Indianapolis two years ago.