Swimming: 'Spa pool' has sisters sweating

Photo / Brett Phibbs

Synchronised swimmers Kirstin and Caitlin Anderson have found themselves in hot water at the Delhi Commonwealth Games, saying the competition pool is like a "spa".

The Winton sisters have asked coach Luciana Garcia to lobby for the temperature to be lowered in time for competition tomorrow, fearing they will otherwise have no energy left late in their routines.

When they first arrived in Delhi the pool was frigid even for a pair of Southlanders "it like froze our eyeballs", Caitlin Anderson, 17, said.

"We told them that the pool was too cold, so they've heated it up - it got warmer, but (yesterday) it was so hot it was like swimming in a spa. Otherwise the pool facility is really good."

It is worst for Kirstin Anderson, 21, as she must practice her solo routine as well as the duet with her younger sister.

Yesterday she had to jump into the main swimming pool to cool down.

"The last two days I was complaining it was too hot, and today it was terrible I just get so hot, and my face gets bright red and I find it hard to breathe - you justyou lose your energy."

The duet made it through the session, but said it was "much more difficult".

"They say it's only two degrees warmer than the swimmers, but it does not feel two degrees difference. It would be a bother if we had to compete in that," Kirstin Anderson said.

After a campaign that took them to Japan, Europe and China in a bid to qualify, and with Kirstin Anderson overcoming a bout of glandular fever, the sisters were delighted to be at the Games, and part of a large New Zealand team

Their journey to Delhi was powered by chocolate.

When Kirstin Anderson discovered Cadbury running a special fundraising opportunity for Commonwealth Games hopefuls, she quickly put their names forward.

They had to sell 4000 bars of chocolate to raise money, with 4000 others sold through Harvey World Travel. It helped them out to the tune of $20,000.

"I think we have a box or two left," Caitlin Anderson said, admitting to a taste for the sweet treat.

"I do, but I tried not to eat any - we didn't have any bars, we were really quite proud of ourselves."

Dunedin sisters Lisa and Nina Daniels, who in 2006 won bronze in the synchronised swimming duet event, have helped the Anderson sisters prepare for Delhi.

- NZPA