Fraser-Holmes Makes First Elite Int’l Squad Since Suspension

2018 AUSTRALIAN SHORT COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Among the 20-strong Aussie line-up for the 2018 Short Course World Championships in Hangzhou is 2016 Olympian Thomas Fraser-Holmes, the Olympic finalist who missed most of the 2017/18 season due to a suspension.

The 27-year-old completed  a 12-month ban for having missed 3 random drug tests over a 12-month period. Officially cut-off from the Dolphins national team both financially and training-wise, Fraser-Holmes began training again alone in December 2017 after having taken 6 months off.

However, ‘TFH’ made his comeback to racing at the Australian Pan Pacific Championship Trials this past July. Although he didn’t make the team for Tokyo later this summer, the Griffith University athlete did get some valuable racing back in his system to serve as a springboard for the remainder of the season.

As such, Fraser-Holmes put everything he had into the 400m IM on the final night of these national championships, after having missed out on individual bids in other events here in Melbourne, including the 200m freestyle.

TFH clocked a time of 4:04.55 to clinch a spot on the SC World Championships roster for his nation, giving a performance worthy of Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers saying it was ‘one of the most inspirational races’ he’s ever witnessed.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpbYJsCB9aZ/?taken-by=kyle_chalmers3

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swimmer!
6 years ago

The best thing about missing drug tests is nobody will know exactly what you were on. Pretty smart in my book!

STRAIGHTBLACKLINE
Reply to  swimmer!
6 years ago

I think every fan has to make a judgement when it comes to these things and I happen to think he was just sloppy in not giving the drug testers current contact details.

Coach Mike 1952
Reply to  STRAIGHTBLACKLINE
6 years ago

Big price to pay for that sloppiness, though, too

swimmer!
Reply to  STRAIGHTBLACKLINE
6 years ago

This is precisely why it was smart. Now people think he was just “sloppy”. Not a bad PR move and his image is protected.

Maybe he should get a panic room to hide in like Serena! That was the best one, in my book

Verram
Reply to  swimmer!
6 years ago

I’m pretty sure you’re accusing him of drugs simply because he’s not American

swimmer!
Reply to  Verram
6 years ago

No, if you know my comments you’d know I am totally fair about PED use in sports, American or otherwise.

swimmer!
Reply to  Verram
6 years ago

In fact, you’d know that I believe that there is way more PED use by Americans than the general public believes. Many Olympic athletes have been protected in the name of ratings

michaelswim1
Reply to  swimmer!
6 years ago

Join the discussion…

About Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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