JOHNSON WARNS RIVALS
One of Wales’ hottest contenders at the Beijing Paralympic Games has issued a warning to her rivals.
Newport swimmer Liz Johnson has set her sights on gold in the 100m breaststroke and last weekend highlighted that she is the favourite to beat by clocking 1.39.45, shaving nearly two seconds off her world best short-course time.
The 22-year-old – who lives in Swansea with cyclist boyfriend Jody Cundy – already boasts a silver medal from Athens 2004 but is now making it her mission to go one better. And she certainly laid down the gauntlet at the Hatfield Swim Club Valentine Open Meet.
She is now limbering up for the British long-course Championships in Sheffield at the end of March where she hopes to qualify for a spot in Beijing:
“It was an opportunity to get some race practice in preparation for the trials and to blow away the cobwebs after a block of heavy training put in at the warm weather training camp on the Gold Coast.
“I was hoping to swim close to my short-course personal best of 1.41.20, as that would’ve been a respectable performance whilst my body was fatigued from an increased training volume, with a view to improving my performance when freshening up during the taper period for trials.
Johnson is now hoping that she can dip under the 100 seconds barrier in Sheffield:
“The fact that I swam 1.8 seconds under my old personal best is very encouraging and has given me the confidence I was looking for as we approach trials. I now look forward to the prospect of breaking the illusive 100 seconds barrier for 100m breaststroke long course.
“The journey to Beijing 2008 is a four year process and the majority of the hard work has already been done by myself and my coach, Billy Pye. Therefore, this final phase is all about the discovery of how successful we have been and the extent of my development. After this result, I cannot wait for trials in six weeks.”
Johnson is joined at the Wales National Pool, Swansea by training stablemate David Roberts who clinched four golds and a silver from Athens.
For more information or interview requests, please contact Jane Williams at
Disability Sport Wales on 029 2033 8274
