TUESDAY, JULY 5, 2016 SPORTS Campbell wants gold at Rio, not records: Coach

MELBOURNE: A month out from the Aquatic Centre but was also quick to 24-year-old Campbell is unlikely to need said. “I never really give her a time to Fraser and , who won gold in Olympics, ’s remind her that the world record would further reminders of how luck can chase, it’s more of a process but some- Athens in 2004. Queenslander Libby freestyle world record is a testament to mean little on the starting block at Rio. change the game when she appears at times (swimmers) do get it in their head Trickett, another four-times Olympic her class and determination but the “Whilst it’s really nice to have the her third Olympics. to chase a time and they generally over- champion, held the record three times Australian will not chase the time in pur- mark, it’s no guarantee of what’s going She won bronzes in the 50m freestyle cook the first 50 in a 100-metre race. from 2004-09 before Steffen took it in a suit of gold at Rio de Janeiro, according to happen at the Games,” the Brisbane- and 4x100m relay on her 2008 Games “She’s really learnt just to rely on synthetic suit and improved her mark at to her long-serving coach. based 39-year-old told Reuters yester- debut in Beijing before losing years to ill- ‘automaticity’ which is just created by the 2009 world championships in Rome. Campbell’s 52.06-second swim at the day. “Winning a gold medal comes down nesses including glandular fever and race training sets,” he added. “She just A number of records set during the Brisbane Grand Prix on Saturday shaved to one moment in time and not only do post-viral fatigue. At her second let it flow out there and it came togeth- controversial super-suit era remain. “I just one one-hundredth of a second off you need great preparation, you do Olympics in London, she won gold in the er, so it was just fantastic.” Cusack said he was there in Rome on the day when ’s seven-year-old mark but sometimes need a little bit of luck on 4x100m freestyle relay but her individual felt Campbell could raise her pace again. Steffen set the record and I remember landed a heavy psychological blow to your side,” he added. “When you’re living campaign was wrecked by a bout of “I don’t think the project’s ever fin- thinking back then, ‘this one is going to her rivals, including her world champion in an Olympic village with people com- pancreatitis. ished,” he said. “She’s obviously probably stand for a while’. And it did,” Cusack said. sister Bronte. None have come close to ing from all corners of the globe and eat- When fully fit, the 2013 world cham- somewhere towards the peak of her “For the super-suit era, the sooner it German Steffen’s time which was set in a ing out of the same food hall you get pion has shown she has no peer, howev- career but it depends on how long she’s can be erased, the better. It was just a now-banned synthetic suit in 2009. exposed to a lot of viruses and bacteria. er, as witnessed by her breathtaking willing to stay in it. “Her starts and turns tumultuous time in history is a distant second in “So that’s why winning a gold at the return to form this year. are consistently improving and that’s and what it did at the time was it made a the world rankings, her best time of the Olympics is such a tough thing and very been a gradual process. So, I’d like to bit of a joke out of world record stan- year more than half a second slower often they’re not won in world record THROWN DOWN think that she can get faster.” dards. It really discriminated against the than her older sister’s. time. So I’ve expressed that to Cate,” The record has inevitably been Campbell joins an illustrious club of ones who set the previous ones in the Simon Cusack, mentor to both Cusack said. “She’s very, very happy with viewed as a gauntlet thrown down, but Australians to have held the world old lycra costumes,” he added. “So it’s a Campbell sisters, was bursting with having that world mark but it doesn’t Cusack said it came by coincidence, not record in the blue riband event, includ- great thing that Cate’s been able to pride after Cate tore up the Brisbane change anything from here on in.” The design. “It was just an organic thing,” he ing four-times Olympic champion Dawn erase that mark.” — Reuters Phelps leads newcomers on road to Rio Olympic

OMAHA: Michael Phelps, one of the world’s at the top of the world rankings, and just two most recognisable athletes, will lead a crop of women in (200, 400, 800 free) and new faces to Rio as a week of ruthless competi- Lilly King (100 breast) atop the lists. tion at the US Olympic trials ended on Sunday Many of the winning times were slower than and shifted the focus to the Summer Games those four years ago at the London trials, a puz- pool. Phelps and old foe Ryan Lochte, the 31- zling development that neither Bowman nor year-old pillars of US swimming who between women’s coach David Marsh could explain. them have amassed 33 Olympic medals, will “One of the things we have always done well, again provide the foundation for a 45-member better than anyone else, is improve from the tri- squad that will be a mix of experience and als to the Games,” said Bowman. youth. At one end of the spectrum are Phelps, “I’m confident we will do that again, we have who will compete in his fifth Games and Lochte a great plan in place and quite frankly we are his fourth. At the other extreme are 30 Olympic going to have to do that if we are going to have newcomers. Out, are Olympic champions, Tyler the kind of Olympics we expect to have and Clary, Matt Grevers, Cullen Jones and Natalie want to have.” That warning hit home loud and Coughlin. clear on Saturday when Australia’s Cate In, are a wave of first time Olympians, includ- Campbell powered to a world record in the 100 ing Maya DiRado who qualified in three events. metres freestyle at the Brisbane Grand Prix. “Going forward we are going to have to step up OMAHA: In this Saturday, July 2, 2016 file photo, Jay Litherland, from left, Kevin to a new level and we will see some new faces BREAKOUT OLYMPIC STARS Litherland and Mick Litherland speak to reporters at the US Olympic swimming trials step up at the top,” said Bob Bowman, Phelps’ Even Phelps, heading for his fifth Olympics, in Omaha, Neb. The Litherlands left everyone seeing triple at the US Olympic swim- coach who will also be in charge to the U.S. acknowledged times will have to improve dra- ming trials. Jay, Kevin and Mick are 20-year-old triplets who competed in Omaha men’s team in Rio. matically between now and the opening of the over the past week. While Jay was the only one to earn a spot in Rio, they’ll all be “We have our tried-and-true guys and I think Rio Games on Aug. 5 if he is to add to his haul of there in spirit. — AP with Michael and Ryan we’re going to be able to 18 gold medals. count on them but it’s going to be very exciting “I think it’s going to take a lot faster times,” to have a new group of guys step up ... and kind said Phelps after winning the 200 medley. “There of take us into the next era of swimming.” are always fast times that are swam throughout Triplets make their Swimmers arrived in Omaha declaring the the world. “I do understand that I have to swim pressure of the U.S. trials was far greater than faster to have a chance to win the gold medal; I mark at US swim trials anything they face at an Olympics but mon- do know that.” Having qualified in the 100 and OMAHA: Michael Phelps of the United States strous expectations will weigh heavily in Rio 200 fly and 200 medley and a candidate for the celebrates during Day Eight of the 2016 US where the stage is bigger, the spotlight brighter relays, Phelps, already the most decorated Olympic Team Swimming Trials at OMAHA: So much for a double take. The MOTIVATION and the competition tougher. Olympian of all-time, will expect to add to his CenturyLink Center on Sunday in Omaha, Litherlands left everyone seeing triple at For Kevin and Mick, Jay’s success has With thumping rock music, pyrotechnics, staggering medal haul. Nebraska. — AFP the US Olympic swimming trials. Jay, Kevin provided plenty of motivation. “Yeah, flaming geysers and capacity crowds of over For the last three Summer Games, Phelps has and Mick are 20-year-old triplets who com- there’s definitely a little jealousy,” Kevin 14,000 filling the CenturyLink center for every shouldered plenty of the load but now 31 and a rare gold medal hat-trick in the 200, 400 and peted in Omaha over the past week. While said. “But that’s only going to make us session the US trials offered up exceptional having dramatically scaled back his agenda, the 800 freestyle. “Hopefully I think they’re going to Jay was the only one to earn a spot in Rio, stronger.” When the Litherlands are in the entertainment but in the end delivered more US will have to count on big contributions from be scared! I mean, it’s no secret that we’re they’ll all be there in spirit. pool, their coaches can easily tell them flash than substance. others if the Americans are to confirm their sta- going to be there towards the end,” warned a apart since they specialize in different tus as swimming’s super power. defiant Lochte. “I think the Japanese, everyone, “All for one,” Jay said. events. Out of the water, the brothers have NO WORLD RECORD The best American shots at gold in the pool Brazil, Hungary, we’ve all been racing against The Litherlands produced one of the some subtle differences as well. The trials failed to produce a single world will come from the team’s youngest member 19- each other so many times that we know it’s most indelible moments at the trials when Mick is the father figure, the one who record while just one American mark fell. The year-old distance queen Ledecky. going to be a dog fight till the end. “The US is Jay rallied on the freestyle leg of the 400- got his driver’s license more than a year meet finished with only two American men, Josh Ledecky could leave Brazil as one of the not easy to beat, and we’re going to definitely meter individual medley to stunningly pass ahead of his brothers and often served as Prenot (200 breast) and (100 back), breakout Olympic stars as she tries to complete prove that in Rio.” —Reuters defending Olympic champion Ryan Lochte their chauffeur. Kevin is the straightforward for the second spot on the team behind one, the guy who always says exactly winner Chase Kalisz. what’s on his mind. Jay is considered the As soon as they saw the “2” beside their most free-spirited of the bunch, always brother’s name, Kevin and Mick hopped going along for the ride. over a railing at the CenturyLink Center to That may have something to do with Chinese swimmer Ning congratulate him. Jay popped out of the how they entered the world. Kevin was water, the three of them embracing on the born first, followed by Mick and Jay. Kevin deck, before Jay jumped back into the pool, and Mick are identical, while Jay is fraternal. unsure if he was breaking some sort of rule. “It’s weird how similar people think they assures fans over Rio No worries there. He’s headed to the look when they first see them,” said Gunnar Olympics. “Once I saw them, I just started Bentz, a good friend and fellow Georgia crying,” Jay recalled at the end of the trials. swimmer who also made the Olympic BEIJING: Chinese swimmer has said “There has suddenly been news recently endorsements and television commercials is not “It was amazing to share that experience team. “But after like six months of knowing his preparations are in full swing for the Rio about the Steamed Bun that has caused concern unprecedented in China which holds its national with them.” them, you really start to be able to tell. Olympics and has assured fans he will be going among many leaders, media, friends, family and athletes to strict standards of conduct. Jay will be able to go home to Georgia Their bodies are all a little bit different, their to the Games following social media reports that Bun fans who have come one after another to Olympic diving champion Tian Liang was for a few days, and then he hits the road faces are all slightly different.” he will be cut from the team for undertaking too show concern and seek proof,” Ning said in a kicked out of the national squad in 2005 for tak- again with the US Olympic team for its Not that most people can tell. In high many commercial engagements. statement. ing part in too many commercial activities, training camps in San Antonio and Atlanta. school, they tried to use that to their The 23-year-old from China’s heartland He said he and his team mates had been despite having won a gold and a bronze at the He will likely be away from his brothers for advantage. “We actually got DQed from a province of Henan last year became the first preparing hard for the Olympics, adding that 2004 Athens Games and the 10 metres platform at least a month, longer than they’ve ever meet because of that,” Jay said with a Asian swimmer to win the two days ago leaders from China’s General title in Sydney in 2000. been apart. sheepish grin. “I think Mick was sick or at the world championships. Administration (of sports) visited their training “As for some rumours, the Steamed Bun does “It’s always kind of different when I’m something and he couldn’t go, so I tried to He edged out Australian favourite Cameron camp to lift morale. “With just over a month to not want to respond because it would only cre- not with my brothers at a meet,” Jay said, a swim his events. But they found out.” At the McEvoy, clocking 47.85 seconds in the blue go before the Olympics, striving for glory for the ate more noise amid preparations for the bit of trepidation in his voice. University of Georgia, where all three are riband event, four years after he tested positive nation at the Olympics is without a doubt the Olympics,” Ning added. pursuing business degrees while compet- for the banned stimulant clenbuterol. biggest dream of a lifetime for all athletes and is “Now is a critical time in the sprint of prepara- BORN IN JAPAN ing for the school’s powerful swimming The swimmer with boyish good looks is a my greatest motivation in training hard and tions for us athletes... People all around the The triplets were born in Japan. Their program, Mick and Kevin are roommates, household name in China and goes by the nick- swimming forward each day.” country are paying attention, it’s once in four mother, Chizuko, is from that country, while while Jay rooms separately with Bentz. names “Baozi” or “steamed bun”. Dropping an athlete from the team due to years, and there can be no mistakes!” — Reuters their father, Andrew, is a chef from New Zealand. The family settled in the United BEST FRIENDS States when the boys were about 3 years But the triplets are never far apart. “I’m old, and they’re now citizens of all three always over there,” Jay conceded. That’s not countries. surprise. Even after their family moved to a While impossible for many to tell apart bigger house, one that had enough bed- on dry land, Jay has clearly pulled ahead of rooms for each of them to have their own, his brothers in the pool. He was the first to the brothers continued to room together earn a spot on the US national team, which until they were 16. They never wanted to meant that was the only country he could spend too much time apart. swim for at the Olympics. “They’re best friends,” said Andrew Mick and Kevin could’ve competed for Litherland, their father. “They’re so lucky to either Japan or New Zealand. Their father’s have each other. To get up in the morning country was the best hope, but the broth- and say, ‘Hey, get out of bed, let’s go.’ Or say, ers weren’t quite fast enough to be select- ‘Hey, we’ve got to get to bed early, we’ve ed for the New Zealand team. practice in the morning.’” The triplets seriously They were still able compete at the US considered going to different colleges, won- trials with their brother, but Jay was the dering if it was time to branch out on their only one with a legitimate shot to make the own. In the end, they all wound up at world’s most powerful swimming team. In Georgia. “They committed one at a time,” addition to his stunner in the 400 individ- remembered their college coach, Jack ual medley, he also qualified for the final of Bauerle, “with a 15minute break in between.” the 200 IM and finished fifth. He was com- Kevin and Mick want to be in Rio with their petitive in the 200 backstroke, as well, but brother, but they aren’t sure if they’ll be able withdrew from that event after the prelims to go. Tickets and hotel rooms are hard to to put his focus solely on the 200 IM. come by, and they’d have to miss a significant Kevin nearly qualified for the final of the amount of class time heading into their junior 400 freestyle, missing the eighth spot by a years at Georgia. Besides, they plan on com- mere 0.17 seconds. Mick was disqualified in peting together at the Tokyo Olympics four the prelims of the 100 butterfly for a false years from now. All for one, you know. “This is start, and he was eliminated in the semifi- only the beginning,” Jay said. “I’m looking for- nals of the 200 fly. ward to going with them in 2020.” —AP OMAHA: waves to fans during the closing ceremonies at the US Olympic swimming trials, Sunday, in Omaha, Neb. —AP