Geoff Huegill splashed around on the pool deck at Bondi Icebergs after announcing his decision to swim on to London 2012. His smile beamed as brightly as the perfect Sydney sun at his back. Jeans rolled up on pool deck, Huegill sounded so passionate about his return you almost thought he would jump right in.

“I want to take on the world’s best again. I definitely believe I have the skill and ability to match them,” the 31-year-old said.

“I’m happy to say it - I want to take on Michael Phelps. He’s without a doubt the best Olympic athlete ever and it’s not every day you have the chance to race a man like that. I didn’t think I’d have an opportunity to race him again,” Huegill said.

On the question of Sydney and Athens teammate Ian Thorpe and his rumoured return to the pool, Huegill thinks Australia’s most successful Olympian could be in London too.

“I think Ian has got the ability if he wants to. It will raise the spirits of the team. I know my performances have helped other guys on our team go up to another level. Having Ian Thorpe on our team would do the same. I’m just grateful he doesn’t do butterfly!” Huegill joked.

Head Coach Leigh Nugent described Huegill as a fabulous contributor and great leader for the Australian swim team in the last 12 months.

“I think he’s an inspiration not only to members of our swim team and all the aspiring young swimmers in Australia, but also the Australian population as a whole,” Nugent said.

On the recurring Thorpe question, Nugent was optimistic. “If anyone could do it (comeback) he could. He’s just an outstanding athlete. I’d love to see it.”

Huegill inspired the nation when he came back and won gold in the 100m butterfly at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. He broke a ten-year personal best but still believes that he can go faster.

“I still think there are a lot of areas I could still improve on. Whilst (Delhi) was good preparation, there are still things that need work.”

Skippy admitted that ultimately, he does not have anything to prove after his success in Delhi, but the truth is that swimming is in his blood and he just loves to race.

“One of the things I’ve worked out in my mind is that I’ll never retire from swimming,” Huegill determined.

Huegill won a bronze medal in the 100m butterfly and a silver medal in the 4x100m medley relay at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. He believes he has the same strength and fitness he had in 2000, unlike Athens 2004 where he finished in eighth place.

“In Athens I didn’t have the same drive, desire or passion. I guess you always have that feeling of unfinished business as an athlete,” Huegill said.

Watching the 2008 Olympic trials, an overweight Huegill felt that burning desire.

“There was a piece inside of me that wanted to be there even though psychologically I wasn’t in the right frame of mind in 2008- or physically in the right shape!”

To complete his fairytale return Huegill will first need to qualify for the Australian Team at the national championships in 2012.

“In 15 months time I know that ultimately my heart and my passion will want to be in that final of the 100m fly to fight for those two team spots,” Huegill said.

As for the prospect of going on to compete in Rio in 2016, Huegill laughed it off. “One step at a time!” he beamed.

With the help of his coach Grant Stoelwinder and the NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS), Huegill is on his way to taking his dream from the starting blocks at the Australian Olympic trials to the podium in London.

Taya Conomos
AOC