News
CONFIDENCE GROWS FOR DELANEY AFTER PERFECT SIX FROM SIX
13/06/2008 Nuna News
The Telstra Dolphins have won another 20 medals, eleven of them gold on the last day of the second leg of the rich Mare Nostrum swimming series in Barcelona.

Beijing breaststroke hopeful Brenton Rickard led the way with a golden double, while wins also went to Leisel Jones, Eamon Sullivan, Sophie Edington, Stephanie Rice, Ashley Delaney, Andrew Lauterstein, Felicity Galvez, Patrick Murphy and Alice Mills

Added to yesterday’s medal haul of 20, the Dolphins leave Barcelona as the dominant nation having amassed 40 medals – eleven gold, eight silver and eleven bronze in just two days work.

The backstroke gold to Delaney and breaststroke victory by Jones ensured the pair finished this tour with a perfect six from six record. Both can come away from the trip with renewed confidence – Jones knowing that she has again put a gap between herself and the world and Delaney empowered by his ability to match it internationally on a consistent basis.

Delaney’s win today came in the 100m in a meet record 54.22 from German veteran Helge Meeuw (54.46). Delaney’s Olympic rookie team mate Hayden Stoeckel, who has been bothered by a virus over the last few days, was third in 55.07.

The 22-year-old said he would return to Canberra on a high after his brace of backstroke trebles on tour, knowing he had room for improvement too.

“I am really happy with the way things have gone and I guess I can take a lot of confidence from this trip because the wins came against pretty decent people,” Delaney said.

“That confidence comes from knowing that I can perform against quality international opposition under pressure and get things right.

“To be able to get the turn right, nail the underwater, do the little things that are so important right when there are a heap of guys right next to you and you are under pressure is hard.

“Sometimes in Australia there are just one or two of you out in front and it’s easier to concentrate on those skills but I need it to be second nature so that I get it right under pressure without even thinking about it.

“I know now I can get things right in a high pressure situation but I also know I need to improve in a lot of areas and there is more hard work ahead before Beijing.”


ASHLEY DELANEY SUCCESS
11/06/2008 Nuna News
The opening finals session of the second leg in the prestigious Mare Nostrum series in Barcelona overnight.

Beijing backstroke medal hopeful and Nunawading’s Ashley Delaney had an eventful day at day one of the second leg of the Mare Nostrum series in Barcelona overnight. Ashley won gold in the 200m and silver in the 50m after being wrongly disqualified in both events in the morning heats for having his entire body leave the water at the start of the race.

A protest by Australian officials was initially dismissed before sanity prevailed and an appeal led to his reinstatement for the finals.

In the 200m he set a personal best of 1:57.22, while in the 50m backstroke he clocked 25.28, with an ailing Hayden Stoeckel sixth in 25.87 and young London 2012 hopeful Daniel Arnamnart seventh in 25.95.

Thompson said Delaney did well to overcome the drama of the double disqualification.

“Ash was disqualified twice in the heats by an official applying a local rule that doesn’t allow you to fully leave the water at the start of a backstroke race,” Thompson said.

“Ash gets up really high on the wall before the start of a race and explodes out of the water in an arch and the official thought it was illegal but that is not what the FINA (Swimming’s governing body) rules state.

“This meet is run under FINA rules and so we were finally able to get him back into the field for tonight.

“Considering all the drama and him not knowing if he would get to race the finals, Ash swam rally well and can be very pleased with the way he handled the distractions.”

Ashley won the 100m backstroke in a new Commonwealth and Australian record.  He also finished second in the 200m Backstroke swimming under Matt Welsh’s eight-year-old Commonwealth record time of 1:57.59 which won bronze at the Sydney Olympics.  Ashley also won the 50m backstroke at the Championships, although this event was not a selection event. 

Ashley, who will compete at his first Olympics in Beijing, thanked the Nunawading Swimming Club and its members for all their support over the three years leading up to the Olympic Trials. 

Ashley was awarded the David Cook Scholarship at Nunawading Swimming Club in 2005 and 2006 and has brought his best time down from over one minute to 53 seconds in 100m backstroke in just 3 ½ years. 

Ashley has achieved this through the dedication and commitment he has shown to attend all training sessions and follow his coaches programs, both at Nunawading and more recently at the AIS.