Adlington faces anxious decision

• Tweet
• Pin It

Beijing sensation Rebecca Adlington may be denied the chance of defending her women’s 800 metres freestyle title in 2012 if the event is dropped from the Olympic programme.

The event is facing the axe as the Coaching Commission of FINA favours a 1500m freestyle event that will unify the men’s and women’s Olympic swimming programme for the first time in history.

At Rome’s 2009 FINA World Swimming Championships, men and women were able to compete in both the 800m and 1500m Freestyle events.

…………………………………………………………………………………………

Related stories

Rebecca Adlington looks back at a childhood in the pool

Swimming: Paralympic swimmers set new records

Cycling: Rebecca Romero to hit the road

………………………………………………………………………………………

However, the IOC is opposed to adding more events to the swimming schedule and it is a decision that has left British Swimming head coach Dennis Pursley furious.

Pursley, former head coach of USA Swimming for 14 years, is appalled at the prospect of the event being removed prior to a home Games in the middle of an Olympic cycle.

He said: “While we support the idea of introducing a 1500m freestyle event for women - allowing the Olympic programme to mirror that of the men’s - I am strongly opposed to the suggestion that this could be introduced for London 2012 while our athletes are in the middle of their Olympic training cycle.

“Athletes and coaches use the entire four-year cycle to prepare for an Olympic Games and to change this now would be unfair.”

Adlington won her second gold in the 800m freestyle in Beijing, after success in the 400m freestyle, and should the changes be enforced, it would be the second major blow to Great Britain’s chances of medals in the last month.

Another Rebecca, Rebecca Romero, found out in October she will be unable to defend the individual pursuit she won gold in in 2008, after cycling’s world governing body, the UCI, decided to scrap the track event.

The UCI want an equal number of events for the genders and Romero will now have to focus her attentions on road cycling.

It awaits to be seen whether FINA will implement these latest changes, and Pursley concluded: “We are comfortable for the women’s 1500 to be introduced at the 2016 Olympic Games [in Rio].

“But to introduce it for 2012 would undermine all of the work put in by the athletes and coaches who have been working toward competing in the 800m in London.”

FINA’s ruling Executive will make a decision in January as to whether or not they will recommend the move to the International Olympic Committee.

Nick Grounds, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine

• Tweet
• Pin It

You may like

• 

  Open water swimming: Henley Swim seeks 5 women for This Girl Can
  Open water swimming: Henley Swim seeks 5 women for This Girl Can
• 

  Training: Swimming programmes and advice for all levels
  Training: Swimming programmes and advice for all levels
• 

  Watch: The Energy Within - Shanntol Ince
  Watch: The Energy Within - Shanntol Ince

You must be logged in to post a comment Login