Swm: Schipper after gold in 200m butterfly

AAP General News (Australia)
08-12-2008
Swm: Schipper after gold in 200m butterfly

SYDNEY, Aug 12 AAP - Beijing Olympics bronze medallist Jess Schipper won't let a little
cold hold her back in her pet event, the 200m butterfly, her sister says.

Rebeccah Schipper said her sister wasn't feeling 100 per cent going into yesterday's
100m butterfly final and her third placing behind golden girl Libby Trickett was a bonus.

"I think she's resting up and getting ready for the 200m which is her pet event," she
told the Nine Network.

"Fingers crossed for that one because it's a long way to swim if you've got a little
bit of a cold."

She didn't find about Schipper's malfunction with her Speedo LZR Racer suit minutes
before yesterday's final until after the medal ceremony.

"She hid it well .. just focusing on what she needed to do in the race and I'm really,
really proud of her," she said.

"She's got her individual medal now and it's so exciting.

"She's happy, she's focused, back in the game and looking forward to the 200."

Schipper will start the 200m butterfly heats tonight as warm favourite for the gold
medal in an event that does not include 100m `fly winner Trickett.

Trickett's best friend Jess Beitz told the Nine Network it was a fantastic swim.

"I am so proud of her (Trickett), I'm in awe. She's just done so amazing. I can't even
speak, I'm just overcome," she said.

"It's gotten to the point where you know that she won't be coming to parties. We sort
of have to organise stuff for her to do, like dinners and stuff. But we don't even bother
with parties any more."

AAP np/jmt/mo

KEYWORD: OLY08 SWM SCHIPPER

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