Swimming: DIY goggles keep glare off Kiwi eyes

By DAVID LEGGAT in Athens

If North Shore backstroker Cameron Gibson makes a big splash in the Olympic pool he can credit a dose of good old Kiwi DIY.

The Olympic pool is uncovered and that's a problem for those who will chase glory on their backs.

The heats are in the morning when the glare is too strong for standard goggles.

So New Zealand's premier backstrokers, Gibson and Hannah McLean, have gone about rectifying the problem in different ways.

Having spent part of their Olympic buildup at the outdoor complex in Maroochydore on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, both knew what they had in their swimming bags wasn't going to cut it in Athens.

Gibson, who has qualified 20th and 23rd fastest in the 100m and 200m fields, had to borrow goggles in Maroochydore because his weren't dark enough.

He had a germ of an idea when he got his car windows tinted.

"I'd had my car tinted with real dark tint and thought maybe I could get some of that.

"I asked if they had any scraps and leftovers. The darkest stuff you can get is what I've got on now."

And when he says dark he's talking 5 per cent visibility.

When McLean, 14th and 20th fastest qualifier in her 100m and 200m events, found her range of goggles in New Zealand did not have anything dark enough she went overseas.

"I had to have them sent over from America. They have quite strong mirrors on them," she said. "It's definitely an issue for the backstrokers, but it's just a case of getting on with it and not stressing about it too much."

As the sun beat down on the pool complex yesterday, a glance at the sky with standard sunglasses gave a painful indication of what the swimmers have to cope with.

Pool roofs offer markers for the backstrokers as they make their way down the lane. No roof means looking for alternative means of getting your bearings.

The Olympic pool is using fatter lane markers, which both swimmers said were a help because they could see them in their peripheral vision.

As McLean put it, "it's just a matter of lining yourself up and keeping in the middle".

The general feeling among the New Zealanders is that this is an ideal venue for a Games meet.

Their thoughts were echoed by American backstroke hero Lenny Krayzelburg, the world and Olympic 100m backstroke champion.

"It is perfect water for an Olympic final."

To clarify, apparently there's water, then there's water.

Gibson describes the pool as "clean and fresh".

"Most would say, 'It's a pool, it's got lanes'. But when you are swimming it feels nice."

Gibson has set a target - he wants to swim at night here. If he does that, it means he's in, at the least, a semifinal, which equates to top 16.

McLean's preparation was hindered when she broke a foot. Four weeks on crutches weren't part of the plan but she feels everything is coming right at the right time.

"You don't want to feel fantastic a week before, and I feel the best I've ever felt now."

Head coach Jan Cameron said nothing had been left to chance in the lead-up.

"The preparation has been exactly as I'd want and the swimmers have responded very well. Now it's up to them to deliver the goods, and that's about the mental and emotional."

Her idea of a successful meet?

"They improve their time, improve their world ranking, smash New Zealand records. You've got to have goals that are realistic."

New Zealand have five swimmers in the pool on the first morning session, starting at 7pm tonight (NZ time) - Dean Kent in the 400m individual medley; Elizabeth Coster in the 100m butterfly, Moss Burmester in the 400m freestyle, Helen Norfolk in the 400m IM and Ben Labowitch in the 100m breaststroke.

The highlight of the opening finals session early tomorrow morning will be Ian Thorpe's first medal tilt in the 400m freestyle.

He has dominated the event for the past six years, and got a free pass with team-mate Craig Stevens withdrawing in his favour after Thorpe's tumble at the selection trials.

IN THE POOL TONIGHT

Dean Kent: 400m individual medley

Elizabeth Coster: 100m butterfly

Moss Burmester: 400m freestyle

Helen Norfolk: 400m IM

Ben Labowitch: 100m breaststroke