Swim: Australian men's team declares war on the US

AAP General News (Australia)
08-28-2001
Swim: Australian men's team declares war on the US

By Janelle Miles

BRISBANE, Aug 28 AAP - The Australian men's swimming team declared war today as it
prepared to battle the Americans tomorrow night at the Goodwill Games.

National head men's coach Doug Frost said the "Thorpedo-led" Australian team would
use every weapon at its disposal to torpedo the United States on the opening night of
competition in Brisbane.

Six-times world champion, Ian Thorpe, will lead the charge, swimming the 100m freestyle
in both men's relays and the individual 200m freestyle, one of his world record events.

But it will be world 100m backstroke champion, Victorian Matt Welsh, who plays the
workhorse role contesting the maximum allowed four events.

Welsh will line up in the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke as well as swim the lead-off
leg in the medley relay.

"I believe we've got the team that can win," Frost said.

"This is war. If you haven't got the weapons, then you're not going to win the war."

Relays will play a crucial role in the unfamiliar teams format with the winning combination
snaring seven points and the losers nothing.

"Because it's seven-zot in the relays, it's important we win those and give ourselves
a good start," Frost said.

"If we can win the medley relay at the beginning, then we're in the box seat."

World recordholder Grant Hackett will also line up in the 1500m freestyle tomorrow
- the only time the event will be swum during the six-day swimming competition, in which
men's and women's teams from Australia, the US, Europe and the rest of the world will
line up.

While it would be in Australia's advantage for Hackett to simply win the event, Frost
said today he would not deny the 21-year-old the opportunity to have a shot at the world
record - and $US50,000 ($A94,000) in bonus money.

"If he wants to establish a world record ... it depends on how he feels on the day," Frost said.

"He only has one attempt at the 1500. It depends on how ... he and his coach assess
the situation."

As for Thorpe, who has set 16 world records in the past three years, Frost was non-committal.

"That's a possibility but I don't think we'll be talking about world records at this
meet and if it happens, then it happens," he said.

"He's a great competitor and if he needs to lift, then I'm sure he will.

"I'm not going to put the pressure on him in regards to world records and we never have.

"We've always talked about trying to win an event."

In all individual events, two swimmers from each team will line up with winners receiving
five points, runners-up three and third placegetters, one.

The Australian women's team will meet the world all-stars tomorrow afternoon with world
team coach, Dr Sam Freas, expecting the locals to swamp their opponents.

"I predict Australia to win by over 100 points in the women," he said.

"The men against Australia, we haven't even begun to calculate that yet. That will
be uglier, I think.

"Collectively as a team, we don't have the ammunition to keep up with anybody."

Freas is still trying to boost his line-up and is hopeful of attracting world 50m and
100m breaststroke champion, China's Luo Xuejuan, to Brisbane in time for the finals round
next Monday.

But he said the cavalry would not arrive in time to save his troops tomorrow against
the Australian women.

"The troops are going down," he said.

Goodwill Games organisers have posted $US100,000 ($A190,000) in prizemoney for each
of the winning men's and women's combinations in Brisbane.

AAP jhm/sp

KEYWORD: GOOD SWIM MEN NIGHTLEAD

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