Monash Sport News

Monash students swim into World Short Course Championships

Two Monash students have been selected for the Australian team that will compete at next year's World Short Course Swimming Championships in Shanghai.

Ms Melissa Mitchell (pictured right), who is undertaking the first year of a Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) at the Caulfield campus, and Mr Brenton Rickard (pictured below), who is completing the third year of a Bachelor of Science by off-campus learning, will attend the championships in April.

Ms Mitchell competed in the Australian Short Course Championships last month where she placed fourth in the 50m and 200m freestyle events and fifth in the 100m freestyle.

She said she had not expected to make the world championships team and was only told a few minutes before it was announced that she had been included.

"It's my first World Short Course Championships, so I'm pretty excited," she said. "I'll be competing in the 4 x 100m and 4 x 200m relay events, which is fantastic.

"It's more international competition, and being in Shanghai means it's good preparation for the 2008 Olympics, which is also being held in China."

In July Ms Mitchell won a silver medal at the World Swimming Championships in Montreal, Canada, as part of the 4 x 200m freestyle team -- her first international medal.

Mr Rickard won four silver medals at the World Short Course Championships last year and is hoping to achieve gold this time.

"It's a tough competition and no matter how much you prepare, you can only do your best possible swim on the day and hope it's enough," he said.