Lionheart chases Olympic dream

By Marc McGowan
HAILEYBURY Waterlions distance swimming star Laura Harney is ready to chase her Olympic dreams again after emerging from an illness-plagued two years.
Harney, 18, contracted pneumonia twice in 2007 and doctors diagnosed her with glandular fever at the start of this year.
The second bout of pneumonia sidelined the budding Olympian from last season’s Australian Short Course Championships and the glandular fever drastically hampered her performances at the Victorian and Australian Age Championships.
But Harney emphatically announced she was back at this month’s Victorian Age Short Course Championships, where she won five medals – including three gold.
“I haven’t been this happy with my swimming in ages,” the 400m and 800m freestyler said last Thursday.
“I had pneumonia twice and then glandular fever at the start of this year, so I’ve been all over the shop, but it’s good to finally be fit again.”
Harney also had to deal with the break-up of her parents, Tania and Leo, in 2005, and she now shares her living time between Mornington and Frankston.
She is completing her Year 12 studies over two years and plans on starting university in 2008.
University is part of what Harney, who spends more than 20 hours a week in the pool, knows will be a new phase in her life.
“I always said I wanted to go to the Olympics and do things like that, but when you miss that much swimming you drop back again,” she said.
“I do still want to get there, but I’ll be happy to just get as far as I can get before it’s time to give it away.
“I have to start thinking about life and getting a job because swimming can’t last forever.”
Waterlions coach Wayne Lawes has no doubt that Harney has the talent to compete for Australia at Olympic level.
“Laura’s stood up through a lot of the difficulties and challenges she’s had, particularly over the last two years, and her true character has shone through,” Lawes said.
“Laura has not reached her potential yet because of all the hardships she’s had over the last couple of years and now she’s just starting to get into the groove and has made a major breakthrough.
“Now she’s only going to go forward more and more.”
Lawes has been a mentor for Harney throughout her troubles in recent years.
“I’ve been at the Waterlions since I was 10, so he’s pretty much like a second dad to me,” Harney said.
“Even with non-swimming-related issues, he’s the one I go to about everything.
“We’re like a family here – we’re all really close.”