Kid Kolby gives ‘Team Guebecka’ a flying start in Mooloolaba
Swimming Australia, February 12, 2016: The pressure will be on the older sibblings when ‘Team Guebecka’ line up in tomorrow's Australian Open Water Swimming Championships at Mooloolaba.
Oldest member of the family, 17-year-old World Championship team member Chelsea Guebecka will line up as one of the favourites in the open women’s 10km Olympic distance event.
Brother Jordan will line up in the boys 15 years 10km while little sister Chloe will contest the Girls 13 years 5km race.
But Chelsea, Jordan and Chloe have it all to do after their little brother Kolby stole the show and the family bragging rights after his victory in today's Mixed 2.5km JX junior event.
Thirteen-year-old Kolby led the 55-strong field of 11-13 year-olds from start to finish in what was for many their first Australian Championship experience with Randwick (NSW) youngster Isabella Coughlin finishing second overall and first female.
And Kolby, who like his brother and sisters trains under Michael Sage at Kawana Waters, did have some “inside info” from big sister who also addressed the field along with fellow Australian Dolphins team member George O’Brien, as part of the Swimming Australia Open Water JX Clinic with National Head Coach Ron McKeon.
“Very proud of Kolby,” said Chelsea, “he did a great job and I guess Jordan, Chloe and I have it all to do.
“He certainly set a cracking pace that’s for sure.”
Chelsea will line up without any pressure and no taper in today’s Open 10km race, having already qualified for the Olympic Qualification race in Portugal in June.
All things being equal, she will be joined by Australian team mate, Karina Lee who is the only other member of the Australian Shadow Squad who will take their place in today’s field, following the withdrawal of two-time Olympian Mel Gorman and fellow open water world championship team member Jess Walker.
It will be a different story in the men’s race with Sunshine Coast based George O’Brien, also coached by Sage, chasing one vacant berth for a shot at Rio selection.
O’Brien, the reigning Australian open surf race champion, will line up against Victoria’s open water king Sam Sheppard, Fina World Cup star Rhys Mainstone from WA and NSW London Olympian Jarrod Poort.
The first Australian home at Mooloolaba will join Australia’s top ranked 10km swimmer, Perth lifesaver Simon Huitenga in the Dolphins team for Portugal.
A top nine finish or the first Oceania swimmer home in Portugal, will grab the one available male and female places for Rio – the third time the 10km event has been swum at the Olympics.
O’Brien said he has learnt a lot from his experience at last year’s World Championships in Kazan.
“I think I’ve gained a lot from it, particularly in mental toughness,” said O’Brien.
“It is something you have to experience yourself to really know what it’s like and for me it was very difficult but I think I’ve come out the other side a better swimmer for it.
“When it comes to training you’ve got to become an overall better swimmer and that will translate into open water.
“Just look at the current world champion Jordan Wilimovsky who is also very competitive in the pool over 1500m.”
Wilimovsky, who has already gained automatic selection for Rio, will spearhead a star-studded international field along with Jack Burnell (Great Britain), Richard Weinberger (Canada), Yasunari Hirai (Japan) and Kane Radford (New Zealand).
The men's 10k race will start at 8am and the women at 11.30am.
Issued on behalf of Swimming Australia by
Ian Hanson| Media Manager
Ian Hanson| Media Manager Triathlon Australia Managing Director
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