Stubbins bounces back

Haileybury Waterlions swimmer Kelly Stubbins starred at this month’s World Cup meeting in Singapore. 16623 Picture: Stewart Chambers

By Marc McGowan
KELLY Stubbins struck a blow for swimming’s older guard at this month’s World Cup meeting in Singapore.
The Haileybury Waterlion swimmer won her pet event, the 200 metres freestyle, before backing up for a second-place finish in the 100 metres freestyle at the two-day shortcourse meeting.
Stubbins’ victory was even sweeter as she defeated two-time Australian long-course 200 metres champion Bronte Barratt. The strong results follow the 24-year-old’s 200 metres triumph at last month’s Australian shortcourse championships.
Waterlions head coach Wayne Lawes said the competition was more about Stubbins further regaining confidence after the disappointment of missing an Olympic Games berth for Beijing.
“She went in completely unrested and they were great results, really,” Lawes said. “She’s still getting over some of the disappointments, but this and her win at the Australians go a long way to heading in the right direction ahead of the world championships trials and then the world championships.”
Lawes remains supremely confident in Stubbins’ ability and praised her as a role model for younger swimmers.
“I think one of the things that is really important is that Kel’s hung in the sport and is continuing to do it at her age,” he said.
“She keeps coming back and rising through some of her disappointments and that shows the real character about her.
“It’s a tough game and to keep coming in at her age and doing it, and not necessarily having the successes of other people, says the world about her as a person.”
Stubbins is set to compete at the Victorian, NSW and Queensland championships in the lead-up to the world championships trials in March.
“We’ll go away to each of those meets with different strategies we’ll be trying to implement,” Lawes said.
“Kel just has to concentrate on swimming her own race because you can’t control anyone else in there.”