Lenton-Trickett: 23.97 WR 50 Free
2008-03-29
Craig Lord
The Australian's effort brought to eight the number of world records set at the most extraordinary Olympic trials in Australian swimming history. Four world records fell at trials from 1988 to 2004

Lisbeth Trickett (nee Lenton) brought the Australian run on world records to a close with a 23.97 maelstrom in the 50m freestyle ahead of 15-year-old Cate Campbell, on 24.38.

Grant Hackett will defend his 1,500m Olympic crown for a second time after a 14:48.65 victory at trials ahead of an improved Craig Stevens, on 14:53.18.

Trickett's mark sliced 0.12sec off the record set by Dutchwoman Marleen Veldhuis at the European Championships in Eindhoven earleir this month. The Australian's effort brought to eight the number of world records set at the most extraordinary Olympic trials in Australian swimming history. Four swimmers set seven world records at trials from 1988 to 2004.

The 2008 Australian world record club:


Before trials:
17/02/08: 50m freestyle - Eamon Sullivan 21.56
At trials:
22/03/08: 400m medley - Stephanie Rice 4:31.46
22/03/08: 50m backstroke - Emily Seebohm 27.95
23/03/08: 50m backstroke - Sophie Edington 27.67
25/03/08: 200m medley - Stephanie Rice 2:08.92
27/03/08: 50m freestyle - Eamon Sullivan 21.41
27/03/08: 100m freestyle - Libby Trickett (nee Lenton) 52.88
28/03/08: 50m freestyle - Eamon Sullivan 21.28
29/03/08: 50m freestyle - Libby Trickett 23.97

There can be no question that Australia has swum beyond itself, beyond the heights of Thorpe and Hackett as a nation. Beyond anything we have ever seen before from Australia in terms of the times on the clock, and not only among record breakers. The following few weeks will provide the world of swimming with a better answer to the questions raised by the Australian trials as many other nations put themselves to the test in a new era of speed. Was it the suit? Was it an Australian phenomenon? Is this generation of swimmers and coaches doing something that predecessors failed to spot? If so, what is it? And is the world prepared to rewrite history? Many more questions will follow in the months ahead before the Battle of Beijing.

The e-mailbag we have received in the past week has been vast. Notes range from the ranting of some Australian fans who clearly don't wish to question anything their heroes do to messages from Europe that contain outright accusations of cheating that sound equally as lunatic. It is a sad reflection of swimming history that the amazing swims we have seen from Sydney this week should be met with suspicion. Understandable too, to all, perhaps, but those who will always prefer to turn a blind eye and to those swimmers and coaches who know that they have got to where they are purely on toil and talent, which may well be the case Down Under. If only the testing regime, which Australia supports but wishes was stronger, was capable of protecting clean athletes as well as it allows cheats to escape. Swimming, along with other sports, is far from that position at a time when the doping battle is about to enter a new phase.