Swimming: Fired up by dad's golden advice

By PETER JESSUP

Olympic great Ian Ferguson has been arming his son Steven with information to have him mentally tuned for the biggest day of his life - when he gets into the Olympic pool today.

Kayaking's multiple gold medallist will be in the stands to watch his 20-year-old son at his first Games, just as four-year-old Steven did when Dad won his three golds in Los Angeles in 1984.

Ian Ferguson believes the Games have come just a bit too early for Steven, given the way he's improving.

Steven Ferguson has been swimming close to his personal bests in training and said he felt he was on the verge of bettering his bests of 1:02.91s in the 100m breaststroke and 2:17.08 for the 200m.

"I'm the fastest I've been coming into a competition. I'm looking forward to racing and hoping for PBs. Every session in training I've been giving it that little bit extra because it is Olympic year," he said.

"Dad's been a big help. He's been telling me what to expect, how to handle different things, getting me geared up mentally."

Ferguson's opening goal is to better 1: 2s flat in the 100m today, "make the semifinal and maybe even the final."

He said he was in Sydney largely for the experience that would carry him on to the Manchester Commonwealth Games, and the 2004 Olympics in Athens "but anything can happen. If I go faster than my goals I'll be very happy."

Backstroker Scott Talbot-Cameron has been getting experience another way, watching world record-holder and favourite Lenny Krayzelburg from the US and how he carries himself around the pool.

"I don't want to pay him too much attention - I have to focus on doing what I need to do to go fast - but it's good to look at him outside the pool.

" In the water he's got a great technique, a similar technique to mine. We're similar body shapes."

Talbot-Cameron's times are right where he wants them for his races, the 100m today and the 200m tomorrow. With three sessions a day in the pool the 19-year-old has done the work and is ready for action, but has his feet on the ground.

*Steven Ferguson swims in the 100m breaststroke today.