MATT BACK IN THE SWIM OF THINGS AT TELSTRA SHORT COURSE
MELBOURNE, September 21: Matt Cowdrey has wasted no time getting back into the swim of things after arriving back from his triumphant five-gold medal haul at the Beijing Paralympics.
The 19-year-old South Australian admitted he was "a little weary" when he arrived to contest the Telstra Australian Short Course Championships at the Melbourne Sports And Aquatic Centre.
After appearing on the Nine Network's Wide World of Sports with Nicole Livingstone, Cowdrey dived in for a heat of the Multi-Disability 50 metres butterfly and emerged the fastest qualifier for tonight's final in a time of 27.43.
"I'm just here to have some fun...swim a few 50s and hang out with everyone from my squad," said Cowdrey, who is the toast of the nation after his amazing eight-medal haul, which saw him carry the flag in a spectacular closing ceremony.
"It was an amazing experience and to improve my times and lower my world records was a huge thrill and it is now great to be back in Australia and I'm looking forward to getting home."
Meanwhile his Paralympic team mates Teigan Van Roosmalen and Prue Watt are the top qualifiers in the women's multi-disability 50m butterfly.
In other finals action tonight:
- Emerging NSWIS athlete Thomas Fraser-Holmes from Hunter, NSW will have to contend with two visitors in British Development Squad member Roberto Pavoni and Carlile-based 19-year-old John Goo from Korea in the 400m individual medley.
- Another NSWIS swimmer, Montenegro-born naturalised Australian Matthew Jaukovic from Sydney University will be the boy to watch in the men's 100m butterfly, after clocking the third fastest time by an Australian (50.83) in last night's semi-finals.
- World Short Course silver medallist Sarah Katsoulis is the fastest qualifier for the women's 50m breaststroke.
- Olympic bronze medallist Hayden Stoeckel will go head-to-head with rising star Robert Hurley in the men's 100m backstroke.
- Athens Olympian Frances Adcock will face a host of youngsters in the women's 100m backstroke final.
- Beijing Olympic silver medallist Christian Sprenger will be a red-hot favourite in the men's 100m breaststroke.
- While Junior Pan Pac representative Lorren Sellwood will face Blair Evans and Lauane Rowe in the women's 800m freestyle.
While in semi-final action:
- Athens Olympian Marieke Guehrer is the fastest qualifier from this morning's heats in both the women's 50m butterfly (26.50) and the women's 100m freestyle (54.66).
- Last night's 200m freestyle winner Kyle Richardson is the fastest qualifier for the semis of the men's 50m freestyle.
- World Short Course finalist Kristy Morrison is the fastest qualifier for the 100m individual medley in 1:02.35 and;
- SOPAC's 15-year-old Jessica Ashwood clocked 8:37.90 to win her heat of the women's 800m freestyle.