Learning experience for Batchelor at World Swimming Championships

It’s a steep learning curve for Christchurch 15 year old Sophia Batchelor, New Zealand’s only competitor in the FINA World Short Course Swimming Championships starting in Dubai tomorrow.

Batchelor, the multi-national age group star, was the only New Zealander to travel to Dubai for the championships and is the second youngest swimmer at the meet.

She begins her campaign tomorrow for the 100m backstroke and will also compete in her favoured 200m backstroke on Friday (NZ time).

Her coach Leanne Speechley said it is a massive learning experience for the young star which will prove invaluable in the future.

“She has been training alongside some of the world superstars and watching what they do,” Speechley said. “Yesterday she trained with Natalie Coughlin practising starts on one side and Ryan Lochte practising turns on the other.

“And I have been able to talk to some of the best coaches in the world who are here. It is a massive opportunity for us both.

“We are here for the experience, to learn from rubbing shoulders with the best and to know what that’s like so that as Sophia progresses through her career, it is a much smoother ride.”

Batchelor goes into the meet ranked eighth in the 200m backstroke and 18th in the 100m backstroke.

“I’d like to see her maintain or improve her status of eighth in the 200 backstroke so she gets to swim the final and feel that pressure and the buzz.

“Having the 100m first is good so she can get a feel for things and iron out the adrenalin so she is more prepared for the 200m.That said, we are aiming on stepping up here in the 100m and making a semifinal. That would be great.”

Speechley said they are missing the team atmosphere but they are taking advantage to meet a number of swimmers and coaches from other countries, something that does not happen as readily inside a bigger team.

She swims in the heats of the 100m backstroke tomorrow evening with semifinals Thursday early morning, final scheduled for Friday, and 200m backstroke heats on Friday night and final on Saturday morning (all NZ time).