Beijing triple gold medalist Stephanie Rice churned up the Adelaide pool last night to become the first Australian swimmer to win selection for the London 2012 Olympics.
The 23-year-old overcame the dramas of last year with right shoulder surgery for a torn tendon, which still isn’t 100 percent, and the break-up of her 12-month high-profile relationship with Wallaby fly-half Quade Cooper.
Last night was all business and passion, Rice’s signature assets.
Having qualified for the 400 individual medley final with only the fourth fastest time of 4.45.70 behind Blair Evans (4.43.54), Samantha Hammill (4.44.11) and Amy Levings (4.44.65), Rice blitzed the field by more than four seconds in the final.
Rice stopped the clock at 4.33.45, the second fastest time in the world this year, with Evans also qualifying for London with 4.37.80.
“I think people have written me off the past few years, and it’s nice to be able to finally let the swimming do the talking,” said it all from the champion.
There’s something very special about Stephanie Rice. It’s not only the passion, but her general presence in the pool, and poolside.
When she speaks, everyone wants to listen. Stephanie Rice is a commanding personality.
Elite sportsmen and women can be a bit precious if they’re not in the peak of condition, or top form. Not so with Rice, she just gets on with it, with a smile as wide as Sydney Heads.
Infectious.
She will light up the London pool, no doubt about that. The poster girl no less.
Not far behind the Stephanie Rice success story is the McKeon saga.
Father Ron represented in the 1980 Moscow Games pool, and in Los Angeles in 1984. Mother Susie (nee Woodhouse) in the pool at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane.
Keeping it in the family, Ron coaches son David (19), and daughter Emma (17).
David qualified for London last night by winning the 400 free. Quite a feat for someone who only started swimming competitively two years ago. Before that David was a “couch potato” according to his dad.
Not to be outdone, Emma will be London-bound in the sprints. She has already beaten the current world champion Therese Alshammer in the 100 free at a FINA World Cup meet.
What talent across the board, and in the best Rice fashion, they are very passionate about their swimming.
Today is D-Day for comebackers Ian Thorpe and Libby Trickett.
Thorpe will swim in the heats of the 200 free this morning, and hopefully in the semis tonight.
Trickett qualified sixth fastest for tonight’s 100 butterfly final, where she is the defending Olympic champion.
“I’m leaving it up to the universe,” was how Trickett described her chances.
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