crystal ball gazing - olympic predictions
With the Olympics almost upon us, the world's press have been feverishly predicting who will win what and how. Unlike the build up to the Sydney games however, far more British swimmers are featuring in these foresights, surely a mark of the increased standing of the squad that has been attained over the past four years. Below, we'll take a look at three of the most prominent predictions and then stick our neck out to make our own predictions for the British team.
First up is Phillip Witten, the editor of Swimming World magazine. He's been a keen advocate of the improvement in British swimming and is one of the most positive that Britain will do well in Athens, predicting the medal haul as follows:
| Gold | 2 | Mel Marshall (200 free) Womens' 4x200 Freestyle Team |
| Silver | 1 | Gregor Tait (200 Backstroke) |
| Bronze | 4 | Katy Sexton (100 back) David Davies (1500 freestyle) James Gibson (100m breast) Men's Medley Relay Team |
Most interesting are his predictions for the relays. The women's 4x200m team should definitely be in contention, but it seems a big ask for an inexperienced squad to topple the likes of the USA, Australia and Germany. Even more surprising is the prediction for a bronze for the men's medley team. There's no doubt that he first three are now world class, but that still leaves an awful lot for the anchor leg to do, and with all due respect to Matthew Kidd, the likely incumbent, he'll be up a against a host of swimmers who will be splitting low 48's and will need the swim of his life to get the team home in third.
These were followed by the predictions that came out of the USA Today newspaper. Unsurprisingly perhaps the journal took a slightly more introverted approach to the whole predictions business, naming a whole host of American medal winners. However, given the results at the recent US trials it would be fair to say that such prediction is based on more than nationalistic pride, and could easily come about n Athens. As far as the Brits went they were still reasonably positive, gong for a total of six medals as follows:
| Gold | 1 | Katy Sexton (200m Backstroke) |
| Silver | 0 | - |
| Bronze | 5 | James Gibson (100m breast) David Davies (1500m Free) Alison Sheppard Katy Sexton (100 backstroke) Womens' 4x200 Freestyle Team |
Finally, the Associated Press writers threw their hat into the ring. Once again they were reasonably upbeat about the British prospects for Athens, although they are the only prediction of the three given here not to give the squad a single gold and also awarded the smallest overall medal count of five, going this time for a hat full of bronze medals as follows, but with no real surprises given the views outlined above.
| Gold | 0 | - |
| Silver | 3 | Gregor Tait (200m Backstroke) Darren Mew (100m Breaststroke) Melanie Marshall (200 Freestyle) |
| Bronze | 2 | David Davies (1500m Free) Katy Sexton (200 Backstroke) |
Well it woudn't be much of a preview if we didn't stick our oar in so we've had a gaze into our own crystal ball to see what we think Britain's swimmers might be capable of. On the men's side we've gone for five medals, with Gregor Tait claiming the only silver amongst a group of bronzes. Of those third places, we've got a good feeling about Ian Edmond for a podium finish in the 200m breastroke and, perhaps surprisingly, for Steve Parry to get on that rostrum over 200m fly. Based on his form to date and his championship experience, this could finally be his year.
Meanwhile on the women's side, it's Melanie Marshall to claim Britain's only pool gold and also to lead the 4x200m free team to bronze, with Katy Sexton adding to her world title from last year, but most likely with a silver.
| Gold: | 1 | Melanie Marshall (200m Freestyle) |
| Silver: | 2 | Gregor Tait (200m Backstroke) Katy Sexton (200m Backstroke) |
| Bronze: | 5 | David Davies (1500m Freestyle) Darren Mew (100m Breastroke) Ian Edmond (200m Breaststroke) Steve Parry (200m Butterfly) Women's 4x200m Freestyle Relay |
So that would bring the team home with 8 medals, a world away from the despair of Sydney. Who knows, someone might surpise everyone and pick up a medal where one was not foreseen where others may fall by the wayside. What's for certain is that we can expect every single swimmer to give their all off the back of a thorough preparation; what's needed then is that lttle bit of inspiration to make that final leap onto the podium.