When two UQ students walk into the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne later this month, tennis will be the last thing on their minds.
Australia’s premier tennis venue has been transformed into a world-class pool that will stage the biggest aquatics competition ever seen in Australia – the 12th FINA World Championships.
The 50-metre pool will be the largest suspended pool ever built, and UQ Scholarship holders Melanie Schlanger and Leith Brodie can’t wait to make a splash.
Science student and member of the Australian Telstra Dolphins team, Ms Schlanger narrowly missed out on selection at the Commonwealth Games trials last year after struggling with sickness before the event.
However, the ladies who pipped her were none other than Libby Lenton, Jodie Henry and Alice Mills in the 100m freestyle final.
The last few months have seen Ms Schlanger rediscover her health and she is looking forward to competing in the specially erected “Skypool” and showing off her sizzling form.
“I’m definitely excited about swimming in the new pool. I’ve been watching a live feed of it being constructed on the internet and it looks really awesome,” she said.
Ms Schlanger said her preparation leading up to the big event had been fantastic.
“The training’s been going really well so far.
“Being sick before the national trials was so frustrating but since then my preparations have been a hundred times better – it’s looking good.”
Ms Schlanger will be racing in the 4 x 100m freestyle and possibly the 4 x 200m depending on the result of her time trial in Melbourne, and she said she was confident of recording a fast time against some strong competition.
“I’m feeling really confident, especially about the 4 x 100m relay. It’s what I’ve been training for and I’m really excited about swimming with those girls (Lenton, Henry and Mills) against the Germans and Americans.
“The Germans broke the Aussies’ world record last year so we’re looking to get that one back and the Americans have also been faster than us now so we’re actually ranked third.
“We’re racing against some tough competition but hopefully we’ll be able to get up."
Twenty-year-old Leith Brodie will also be a strong contender to claim a medal in the individual medley.
The UQ engineering student holds the national record for the 100m and 200m individual medley, and is currently the top Australian in the 400m version of the event.
But he will have to contend with US swimming sensation Michael Phelps, who won six golds among his eight medals at the Athens Olympic Games and looks set for another haul in Melbourne.
The 12th FINA World Championships will feature approximately 2000 athletes from 175 countries competing across five aquatic disciplines from March 17 – April 1.
Media: Melina Stephanos at UQ SPORT (07 3346 7519, melinas@uqsport.uq.edu.au)
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