Jeanette Ottesen Gray had a spectacular end to her 2012-2013 season winning the 50 butterfly at the World Championships in Barcelona then going on to win the 50 and 100 butterfly at the World Cup in Eindhoven and the 100 butterfly in Berlin (she was disqualified in the 50 meter distance).
After the World Cup in Berlin Ottesen Gray took a break and spent time away from the pool, “Right after I got home from it all I went on holiday with Bobby (Gray),” Ottesen Gray told the Danish Swimming Federation.
“We were off on a wonderful vacation for 8 days and it was really needed! I did nothing at all.”
“Then I just had a nice time, been around a bit and visiting some friends. It just kept me far away from the water. I needed a break too, because there is a long season ahead. ”
After her well deserved break she is now ready to return to competition at the World Cup stops in Dubai and Doha, “I feel comfortable. I’ve attended most of the training and am obviously looking to get started again.”
“But it’s always a little reluctant to come back from vacation, it’s never really cool to start up again. I have some freestyle races and I have worked a lot on my technique, so we’ll see how it goes!”
Nick Juba, the Danish National Team Coach is excited to see Ottesen Gray back competing, but feels that the expectations of her need to reduced since she took the time away from the pool, “She is a great swimmer, especially short course, so she will be good in the events,” said Juba.
“She has been in the water for quite sometime now. She had a long period of rest after the Worlds and the first World Cup meets that followed. So she needs to come back to the water now to start competing again. ”
“The main thing here is just to begin the next phase toward the European Champs in Herning, so it would be unfair to have high expectations at this point, she still is in the early stages of the season. ”
After the World Cups in Eindhoven and Berlin Ottesen Gray was in the sixth position in overall points, after Moscow that position has obviously changed.
Because there’s not only Danish swimming in the world, here’s a little news about French swimming.
Romain Barnier, former Auburn swimmer, will be the head coach of the French national team until 2016. Very good choice. He’s really a great coach and has brought his American mentality and experience in French swimming.
http://www.lequipe.fr/Natation/Actualites/Barnier-entraineur-en-chef-jusqu-a-rio/408096
Yes, I saw that news on another swim news site we won’t mention here 🙂 He seems to have been doing a good job with Manaudou, Bousquet and Lacourt so let’s hope he can continue to do great things for the French team.
Mads Glæsner will also be competing in Dubai and Doha, and it will be good to see him back.