South African flyer Roland Schoeman believes if his second lap is on par with his rivals he can win the 100m freestyle gold medal at the World Swimming Championships.
Schoeman, who is the second-fastest swimmer to date over 50m, is confident he can do his first lap in 22,4 seconds, but it is the second 50m which is the problematic part for him.
The Arizona-based South African won the silver medal in the 100m at the 2004 Athens Olympics behind Dutchman Pieter van den Hoogenband, who holds the world record at 47,84.
Schoeman believes van den Hoogenband’s world record may have to be broken to win the 100m world title here.
”It could take a 47 [seconds], but everyone gets so hyped up it could only take a 48,4,” Schoeman said at Monday’s team training.
”I can do my first lap in 22,4. If my second [lap] is as good as everyone else’s in the world, no one can touch me.”
The 27-year-old sprinter says he is healthy for the championships after suffering fatigue at last year’s Commonwealth Games here when he finished third behind Englishman Simon Burnett.
”I’m here, I’m healthy, I’ve been training right. I’m coming into this stronger than I’ve ever been, and more mature than I’ve ever been,” he said.
He was disappointed in his fitness for the Commonwealth Games.
”I have a body that is purely sprint orientated. Lots of aerobic training breaks me down. I just got pushed beyond my limit,” he said.
Schoeman was a member of the South African team that stunningly won the 100m freestyle relay gold medal from The Netherlands and United States and he has been vocal in speaking up about his team’s relay chances at the world championships.
”We need characters in swimming. We need controversy,” he said.
”We’re not actually discrediting each other, we’re just getting people riled up to bring out the best. Let’s see what you got. I love it. Bring it on.
”When I said ‘people enjoy spanking the US’, I think the US enjoy spanking everyone else.”
South Africa head coach Dirk Lange believes his team is in with a chance to knock over the Americans in the relay, purely with Schoeman in their ranks.
”The improvement of the US team automatically puts us as the underdogs, but that does not mean we have no chance. We are always a chance with Roland Schoeman in the team,” Lange said.
”For me, he is perfect. If he is in the mood, he can do anything, he’s full of surprises. Personally, I believe I’ve never seen a faster swimmer.
”Unfortunately at the Commonwealth Games he got sicker and sicker every day, and he didn’t get to show his ability.
”He must feel comfortable in the situation next week, if he feels comfortable he will perform.” – AFP
