Rice Throws Herself Into Training

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday January 3, 2009

Michael Cowley

SHE may have become "Miss Seen Everywhere" since returning from the Beijing Olympics - invited to all the A-list parties and even getting a start at Paris Hilton's New Year's Eve bash - but Stephanie Rice is committed and will be ready for this year's world titles in Rome.

Like most Olympians Rice took time away from the pool after Beijing, effectively her last significant break before the London Games in 2012.

The triple Olympic gold medallist spend a lot of time enjoying the spoils of her Chinese success and as a result there had been concerns about firstly her motivation to return to training, and then her fitness once she got back in the water. But both her coach Michael Bohl, and national head coach Alan Thompson have no doubt she is on track to make the Australian team at the selection trials in March, and then produce her best in Italy in July.

"I spoke to Stephanie this morning and I saw her train this morning, and she trained very well and very hard with Tony Shaw's squad out at Homebush," Thompson said yesterday.

"I also saw 'Ricey' train after the Queensland state titles in Brisbane [two weeks ago] and she really was working hard and did extra dry land work at the end of her session, and this morning she asked Tony if she could stay in and do some extra work on butterfly.

"I timed her in a couple of sprints and she looked very good and talking to her she's really got her head in the right place. I don't have any doubts in my mind at all that Ricey will be back as good as ever. No doubt at all.

"I think hangover is an unfair word really. When they [Olympians] come back and are capitalising on the success they had and doing the rounds it becomes very tiring and it's hard to be 100 per cent motivated when you are tired all the time.

"They have to capitalise on their success and take that opportunity to do that and I think she did that, and in my discussions with her and 'Bohly' and her management it was clear that they are now on track for Rome on the way to London.

"Now the majority of those things have ceased for Ricey and there will be only limited appearances or limited promotional things she's got to do between now and the trials, and she seems really focused on that and really prepared for that.

"I've got no doubt Stephanie will get on the world championship team and be extremely competitive. She is just that sort of girl."

Bohl agreed with Thompson's assessment and while he said Rice had been troubled by "a bit of sickness"since returning to training eight weeks ago, she had been "better and better and better every week".

"You would rather see them a little bit more advanced but she's not in any dire position at the moment," Bohl said.

© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald

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