Triple Olympic gold medallist and short course 100m freestyle world record holder Libby Trickett will make her return to competitive swimming at the SA Aquatic & Leisure Centre in Adelaide next month, as one of 488 swimmers entered for the 2011 Australian Short Course Championships (July 1-3).

Trickett will be joined for the three-day meet by 22 members of the Australian Swim Team bound for the world championships in Shanghai (July 24-31), including Jessicah Schipper, Leisel Jones, Geoff Huegill, James Magnussen, Eamon Sullivan and 15-year-old sprinter Yolane Kukla.

Initially retiring from the sport in December 2009, the 26-year-old signalled her intentions to return to the race pool in September last year and has had to wait nine months before being eligible to compete again at a FINA recognised meet.

Now almost two years since she last raced competitively, when she set a world record of 51.01 in the 100m freestyle at the 2009 Australian Short Course Championships in Hobart, Trickett says she’s looking forward to getting the chance to race at Adelaide’s new SA Aquatic & Leisure Centre.

“It has been a long wait, over nine months now, but in some ways it feels like yesterday that I made the decision to get back in the pool again,” said Trickett.

“I started my taper yesterday, which is pretty exciting because it means there is a good block of training to taper and that’s something I haven’t had for about two years.”

Trickett will swim in five events over the three days of competition, the 50m backstroke, butterfly and freestyle and 100m freestyle and butterfly.

In the lead up to the meet on Wednesday 29 June, Trickett will also compete in a 100m freestyle time trial for a place on the world championship team, racing the likes of Bronte and Cate Campbell, Marieke Guehrer and Alice Mills in a bid to go under 54.99 and earn a place on Australia’s 4x100m freestyle team for Shanghai.

“Regardless of what happens with the relay selection time trial I’m really lucky that there are other opportunities to race this year and I’m looking forward to the Short Course Championships,” said Trickett.

“Short course means you have to focus on your skills and that has always been one of my strengths.  I’ve got no idea how I’m going to race, and there’s a bit of uncertainty about it, but I’m excited by the chance to get back in the pool and really looking forward to competing again.”

In all, 12 men and 10 women from the team heading to Shanghai will compete in Adelaide while Swimming Australia Head Coach Leigh Nugent said the three-day meet will provide many with vital race experience at this stage of their preparation for Shanghai.

"With less than six weeks to go until the start of the world championships in China, the short course championships will provide many athletes with some valuable racing practice, especially the ones who haven’t travelled to the US or Europe in recent weeks," said Nugent.

The Relay Selection events will be held prior to the 2011 Australian Short Course Championships with the 100m for men and women on 29 June and the 200m freestyle on 30 June. To be considered for selection on the 2011 World Championship team through this meet a swimmer must finish first and swim equal to or better than  the following times (5th place at Nationals) -

Men’s 100m Freestyle - 48.95
Women’s 100m Freestyle - 54.99
Men’s 200m Freestyle - 1:48.50
Women’s 200m Freestyle - 1:57.59

Swimming Australia