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Melanie Schlanger in Time-Trials
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Melanie Schlanger in Time-Trials
Australian Freestyle Swimmer Bound for Beijing 2008 Olympics
Mar 18, 2008 © Harry P. Schlanger
Melanie Schlanger is one of at least four Australian women to compete in the 100m freestyle
time-trials for Beijing 2008. Only two women are selected per individual race.
With the Beijing 2008 Olympics fast approaching, the competition is hotting up to grab reigning Olympic
champion Jodie Henry's vacant spot in the Australian national swimming team. Swimmers are ready to fill
the vacuum created in the individual women's 100m freestyle: Alice Mills, Shane Reese, Cate Campbell and
Melanie Schlanger.
There are only two individual swimming places available, and if Libby Lenton
performs well as is her usual standard, she will certainly retain her spot.
Training With Libby Lenton
Melanie Schlanger is Libby Lenton's training partner. Last year she was a member of the gold medal-winning
quartet in the 4x100m freestyle relay of the World Championships in Melbourne (Photo: Jodie Henry, Shane
Reese, Melanie Schlanger, and Libby Lenton).
Later in the year, just
before Christmas, Melanie beat Lenton for the first time in a local race. The upcoming March 2008
Australian Championships in Sydney are the time-trials for Beijing team selection, so Melanie has the
chance to show that she is indeed an individual freestyle swimmer in her own right.
Switching From Athletics
Melanie excelled at a young age in athletics but switched to swimming at age 14. During high school, she
became a school celebrity because of her swimming prowess, and at age 21, she returned to school as a
legend to give motivational talks to the next generation of students.
At one stage, at age 18, talent scouts from University of Hawaii recruited Melanie to swim for their
university under scholarship while studying science. She reported many wonderful moments and made many
friends but returned home-sick after two years.
Daily Training Regimen
Melanie Schlanger now lives in Brisbane where she trains and attends Queensland University to complete
her science degree and hopes to enter the school of medicine next. Her training regime at Commercial club
under Coach Stephan Widmer is disciplined and rigorous:
- Three hours in the pool in the early hours of the morning, and
- Two hours in the afternoon.
Somehow she also finds time during the day to build up her
physical frame in the gymnasium. After the Saturday morning swim it's time off, and most weekends Melanie
travels 150km North along the Sunshine Coast back home to visit Mum and Dad in Buderim North.
Great Swimming Potential
Melanie swam serious times, showing great potential to become an Olympic swimmer when she returned a
personal best of 54.7s in the 100m freestyle less than two years ago. In 2008 she has the chance to
"take the next step" and make the team to go to Beijing as an individual and 4x100m freestyle relay
swimmer.
Readers might like to get Olympic Facts and Figures or find out about Melanie Schlanger's Beijing Olympic
Achievements. (coming back articles)
The copyright of the article Melanie Schlanger in Time-Trials is owned by Harry P. Schlanger.
Permission to republish in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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