US and Aussie champs set for Dubai showdown

Swimming powerhouses United States and Australia have both sent talent-packed teams to take part in the 10th World Short Course Championships which take place in the desert setting of Dubai from today till Sunday.

Michael Phelps will not be gracing the pool at the state of the art Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Sports Complex this week but the likes of America’s Ryan Lochte, Brazil’s Cesar Cielo and Sweden’s Therese Alshammar are sure to keep things interesting.

With over 140 nations competing at these Championships, leading the medal charge will be a strong US line-up, which includes 20 Olympians such as Lochte, Nathan Adrian, Natalie Coughlin and Aaron Piersol.

“This team represents one of the most talented US squads I’ve seen,” said team coach Jim Wood.

“Our team is a solid mix of new talent and veteran leadership and that is really exciting, both for this meet and as we head toward London in less than two years.”

Another of the Americans to keep an eye on will be Rebecca Soni, who will be renewing her rivalry with Australia’s Leisel Jones in the breaststroke events.

Joining Jones in the Australian squad in Dubai is comeback king Geoff Huegill, who has made a remarkable return to international swimming following his retirement in 2004, and will be looking to follow up on his recent Commonwealth Games success with victory in the 4x100m medley and the 100m fly.

It won’t be all about the Americans and Australians in Dubai, though.

With a squad of over 40 swimmers including 200m fly world record holder Liu Zige, the Chinese team will be looking for a massive improvement on their single silver medal from Manchester in 2008.

And fresh from the European Short Course Championships, the likes of Sweden, France, Italy, Hungary and Germany will all be in contention for podium places.

Sweden’s Therese Alshammar won the overall FINA World Cup title for the third time last month and already boasts a massive 15 medals from previous appearances in these Championships.

Federica Pellegrini and Filippo Magnini will head up Italy’s line-up while the French team includes Alain Bernard and Frederick Bousquet.