And Soni, last month named USA Swimming’s Female Athlete of the Year for the second year in a row, cannot wait for another great battle with her friend and rival from Australia.
“It’s a very good rivalry,” she said. “I really respect Leisel and I think she respects me so that’s always a good thing.
“I hadn’t got to race her very much at all outside the Olympics so being able to get to know her a bit more at the Pan-Pacs in California this past summer was a great thing.
“She’s a great girl and I know (after coming second to Soni in California) she is going to come back stronger. I’m sure we are in for an exciting race against each other.”
Soni admitted she prefers long course racing in the 50-metre pool but the 23 year-old said she is still desperate to medal for the first time in a short course World Championships.
“The last short course racing I did was in the Duel in the Pool in Manchester in England last December (when the USA team raced against a combined Great Britain, Italy and Germany team). They were great short course races but since then I haven’t swum any short course metres.
“Long course is always my favourite and the less turns the better, that’s always best for me, but I’m really excited to see how it goes in short course this time.
“The last time I raced short course was in (body) suits so I am really excited to see what happens in Dubai,” added Soni.
The USA squad for the Championships features 20 Olympic athletes, including reigning short course World Champions Ryan Lochte and Nathan Adrian. Lochte earned four gold and two silver medals at the previous FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Manchester in 2008 while Adrian earned two golds and one silver medal.
The Championships mark the USA squad’s first trip to the United Arab Emirates and it will also be the first time the USA has sent a full-strength squad to a FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) since 2004 when the event was held on home soil in Indianapolis.
When the squad was announced in October USA Swimming interim National Team Head Coach Jim Wood said: “This team represents one of the most talented USA Swimming squads I’ve seen. Our team is a solid mix of new talent and veteran leadership and that is really exciting, both for this meet and as we head toward London (the 2012 Olympic Games) in less than two years.”
Vice-Championships Director Dr Khalid Al Zahed said: “The contest between Rebecca Soni and Leisel Jones is a mouth-watering prospect and one of a host of fantastic duels that we will see throughout the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) as we welcome some of the world’s best athletes to Dubai.