Swimming: Our chance to win gold medal racer

By CHRIS RATTUE

English breaststroke sensation Zoe Baker is considering swimming for New Zealand.

Baker is a Games star, even briefly upstaging Ian Thorpe in Manchester when she became the first female British swimmer in 42 years to break a world record in a one-lap event.

Baker has lived in Christchurch for six years and almost switched allegiances for these Games, when England considered not having a swimmer in the non-Olympic 50m event.

The self-coached Baker's remarkable story is one of willpower and beating the odds.

She has had no competition to push her, she lives in a swimming backwater, and at one stage had to share swimming lanes with the public while training.

But she has become the fastest 50m women's long-course breaststroker.

She is even denied the chance to swim against New Zealand men beyond the preliminary competitions.

"I beat the boys anyway. They complained that I would take away one of their medals and a place in the final. I might as well just race myself," said the 26-year-old, originally from Sheffield.

Baker's lonely approach, though, has brought remarkable success.

Since the retirement of South African Penny Heyns, Baker has duelled with Emma Igelstrom, of Sweden, for the short and long-course records.

Baker broke the short-course record three times this year, then the Swede broke the 30s barrier in setting the latest mark.

But Baker set a new mark in the all-important longer pool when she won gold in Manchester.

She recorded 30.57s in the semifinals, and is confident of breaking 30s over the long course soon.

English swimming spends up to $70,000 each a year on its best competitors, but Baker has sometimes been snubbed by the selectors and is denied lottery funding for the 50m because it is not included at the Olympics.

Her world short-course campaign in Moscow this year was hit when she was bitten by a poisonous spider at her New Zealand home, and she finished with the bronze.

Her earliest opportunity to try for Olympic gold in the 50m will be in 2008, although she will train for 100m selection in Greece in two years.

Baker loves the New Zealand lifestyle. She lives close to the beach where she walks her dogs and enjoys the contrast to "dreary" English weather.

But she is hard up for cash, and relies on her plumber father and leisure centre worker mother for $12,000 a year to return for meetings and trials in England.

Baker suggested some financial support in New Zealand would win over her talents.

She said: "I was very seriously considering swimming for New Zealand at these Games, until England changed its policy.

"One problem is there is a stand-down period. It might be six months.

"I get no sponsorship money from England because they say I train in New Zealand.

"No one in New Zealand is interested in me because I swim for England.

"I've sent letter after letter looking for support, but I haven't got a thing.

"It's a big decision and I am English. But I've got New Zealand citizenship and it's a possibility, if I get the right support. New Zealand swimming has been quite welcoming."

She originally followed coach Kim Swanwick, who had secured a coaching job in Christchurch.

It was meant to be a six-week change of scene so Swanwick could check her stroke, after Baker missed England's Olympic team and was swimming poorly.

But Baker stayed on and since 1999, when she became mainly self-coached, her career has taken off.

At first, she shared lanes with swimmers at the QEII pool; she now has her own lane for 1 1/2 hours each day.



Her determination and talent has created world records from a New Zealand base, and she does not know why locals can't do the same.

The struggles of her swimming flatmate, Sarah Jackson, provide a clue.

"Swimmers don't get support in New Zealand," says Baker.

"People are only interested in cricket and rugby.

"Why would anyone swim when they know of the struggles ahead.

"Sarah has to attend university to get her student grant, and she works in a bar until 5 in the morning. Then she has to train.

"I sit on my bum for four or five hours getting the proper rest after training. Now, who is going to be the better swimmer?"

Baker said she was eager to get back to Christchurch, especially to see her dogs again.

"I spend a lot of my time with them when I'm not training.

"This might sound silly, but I really do miss them."

Full coverage:
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