Champions back in the pool

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Twenty Olympic swimming champions are expected to hit the pool in Brisbane next Saturday for the Australian Short Course Championships.

But for those expecting to see the big stars in action, think again. Jodie Henry, Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett are all enjoying a well-earned break from their Athens campaign.

Organisers report the five-day-meet, which will be held at the Chandler Aquatic Centre in Brisbane’s south, has attracted more than 1900 individual entries from 546 swimmers representing 144 clubs.

And despite the big guns’ absence there will still be plenty of drawcards in the mix.

`Quick Chicks’ 4×100 metre freestyle gold medallist and world record holder Libby Lenton, 19, is just one of the remaining big names, joining 100m breaststroke silver medallist Brooke Hanson and Matt Welsh in the line up.

For Lenton and Welsh the championship offers a chance for redemption after their sometimes disappointing Athens performances.

Lenton, who went into the 100 metre freestyle as the world record holder, failed to make the final.

While Welsh, 27, a silver and bronze medallist at the Sydney Olympics in the 100 metres and 200m backstroke respectively, finished fifth in the 100m final and missed out on the 200m finals.

Australian Swimming boss Glenn Tasker said organisers were excited by the influx of entries and the obvious flow on from the success of Australian swimmers in recent years.

“I’m sure we will see some new faces emerge and I know they will be buoyed by the success of the team in Athens,” he said.

He said from the event Australian Swimming would name a team of up to 30 to contest the FINA World Short Course Championships at Indianapolis in the United States from October 7-11.