“This is my first serious competition since quitting swimming and I am glad we are in this part of the world. I think the Japanese event will be very exciting and it will be a stepping stone for me in my preparation for the Olympic Games.”
What was your major motivation for coming back, one intoned: “The biggest motivation was really the unknown of what I was trying, not knowing whether or not I still had my natural ability or whether or not I would still be able to train as I used to or mentally if I was strong enough to do this. I think this was the biggest motivation. It wasn’t around any other factor about trying to return to a certain level or to get back to being the No 1 in the world. These things didn’t motivate me as much as the challenge I had for myself to get back into a position where I was a swimmer again, so I think that was the biggest motivator.”
Alshammar (SWE), Thorpe (AUS) and Japanese Kitajima, Horihata, Matsuda and Terakawa at Tokyo press conference
On his target for London: “It’s difficult. I’m preparing as best as I can for the Olympic Games, but I don’t have very much time and this is going to be the most difficult thing to overcome. I’m happy with how I have prepared and how I’m training and the events I want to swim at the Olympics will be the relay berths — the 100m and 200m freestyle."
Other swimmers managed to get their say on World Cup proceedings and the imminent Olympic Games.
Therese Alshammar (SWE): “I am very happy to come back here and I am extra happy to have the final races here. I’ve prepared to the best of my abilities and trained very hard and well and I am racing very much and the World Cup is part of my preparation (for 2012 London Olympic Games). So far I am very happy.”
Kosuke Kitajima (JPN), silver medallist in 200m breaststroke in Shanghai: “This year I am very happy as Ian (Thorpe) is the same age as me and I am looking forward to compete with him again.”
Aya Terakawa (JPN), 50m backstroke silver medallist in Shanghai: “Looking back at this summer I have good memories and bad memories but after this summer I started preparing for the London Olympics and I have been participating in this event while doing a camp, so I’ve raced myself up now and this has been an opportunity for me to test what kind of record I can gain and how I can swim and I would like to take this opportunity to confirm my condition. I would like to try my best.”
Takeshi Matsuda (JPN), Shanghai 200m butterfly silver medallist: “I have been able to arrange myself and adapt myself. This is an opportunity to put into action what I have learnt.”
Yuya Horihata (JPN), Shanghai 400m IM bronze medallist: “I still have work to do but for the Olympic trial next year to do the best I can and I am stimulated by so many great athletes in the World Cup so I would like to swim as a medallist and do a good race.”