At the Australian Commonwealth Games Trials just over a month ago 2008 Olympic medalist Eamon Sullivan surprised many by winning the 50 freestyle after a prolonged layoff after the 2012 Olympics.
When Swimming Australia announced the Commonwealth Games team Sullivan’s name was listed, but with an asterisk. The asterisk signified that his inclusion on the team would be dependent on medical examinations to determine his readiness for the games.
The reason for this is that three weeks ago Sullivan underwent surgery on his left shoulder for the third time in 18 months.
Sullivan has returned to training and is focused on his preparation for Glasgow, “It’s been three weeks since the operation and I got back in the water last week and I’m just doing what I can,” Sullivan told The West Australian.
“I am just going to take my time.”
“If Swimming Australia don’t think I’m ready to race I’m happy to wear that.”
“But I’m optimistic that I’ll be there and do the right things and be swimming fast enough come Glasgow.”
One of the reasons that Sullivan is more than willing to be patient is that he has his eye on a bigger prize, Olympic gold in 2016, “I sort of planned to drop off the radar,” he said.
“I just wanted to make 100 per cent sure that I was doing it for the right reasons, not just because I had always done it and I didn’t know what else I was going to do.”
“It was always about getting to Rio for me, another Olympics, and I think with the 50m my aim is to get that elusive gold medal and retire on my terms.”
Sullivan has made a lot of changes to his training regime since 2012. He is now training under the guidance of Michael Palfrey in a program that is tailored for the 50 freestyle.
His winning of time of 21.65 from Brisbane puts him third in the world rankings behind Brazilians Cesar Cielo and Bruno Fratus.
2014 LCM Men 50 Free TYR World Ranking
MANAUDOU
21.32
View Top 96»2 Cesar
CieloBRA 21.39 04/23 3 Bruno
FratusBRA 21.44 08/24 4 Vladimir
MOROZOVRUS 21.55 05/15 4 Anthony
ERVINUSA 21.55 08/10
With all these “old” boys extending their career anf focusing on short distances, the 50 free is becoming a very crowded and tough race!
Agreed. Making the final in Rio will be a significant achievement. It could take going under 21.6.
With Manadou, Cielo, Vlad, Adrian, Fratus and Ervin being under 21.5 at one point or another, that leaves just two sports left over for anyone else to make the final, assuming they all stay healthy and at the top of their games.
… and speaking of old boys, I would not count Schoeman or Bovell out – when it comes to sprinting, they can give anyone else a run for their money! By the way, what is Bovell doing? Does he still train/compete?
Bousquet (healthy) can beat anyone. And he will be back. 21.3 textile for Fred means he will be in the game.
And Cullen Jones. Holy cow, the 50 is going to be insane. Between all the old dogs and the fast young guys coming up the ranks (Dressel, Santana, Sedov, Hoffer, etc.), this is going to be brutal.
I agree.
Men’s 50 free is so crowded and weirdly interesting because you have both swimmers over 30 yo and teenagers swimming sub 22.
To think that the “splash and dash” was rated low once. Now it’s become a specialty of its own. Not any more a side dish for 100 free sprinters, but a very specific race for highly trained specialists.