Swimming: Swan dive a mystery

Corney Swanepoel. Picture / Kenny Rodger

Corney Swanepoel will undergo tests this week to see if a growth spurt might have been the reason behind his disappointing performance at the world championships.

The 19-year-old had blood tests last week to see if there was a medical explanation but will go back in for tests to assess whether a biomechanical problem associated with a change in body shape or size could be behind him failing to make an impression.

Swanepoel's performances in the 50m and 100m fly failed to live up to expectation following record-setting times in pre-meet training camps, prompting North Shore and national coach Jan Cameron to query whether there was something physically wrong with him.

"He was our highest-ranked swimmer going into the meet. It wasn't for the want of trying that he did not show what he is capable of," Cameron said.

Speaking to the Herald on Sunday, Swanepoel said he knew something wasn't quite right at Montreal, where New Zealand surprised even themselves by making eight finals.

"At camp I felt really good but once competition started I felt really low and flat," he said.

"I wasn't too happy with the way I went because I was feeling so good leading up to it."

Swanepoel is now looking ahead to Melbourne in March next year but could be facing a confidence crisis after failing to make the final of the 100m fly in Athens last year.

However, former national coach Mark Bone believed it would not be a problem as Swanepoel "oozes confidence".

"The Olympics was his first major and it's so foreign to every athlete. He was really young and wasn't quite ready," Bone said.

Bone said that in terms of technique and ability Swanepoel was, along with Hannah McLean, one of New Zealand's true world-class swimmers.

He said it was imperative Swimming New Zealand got Corney to more big overseas meets.

"It might just have been that he didn't get his taper quite right and racing in something like the world student games or a short-course meet soon after Montreal would give an indication of that. He needs more opportunities to race. It won't test his mental strength as such but it will test the physical element."

At Montreal the 50m was meant to be his trump card after going into the championships with the fourth-best time in the world. He clocked 24.56s, the 25th best time of the heats and well outside his national record of 23.76s.

But no one doubts his ability. Cameron rates him as one of the best natural flyers she's ever seen.

"I've got to try and put it behind me because if I focus on it too much it will just knock my confidence," Swanepoel said. "I know I'll do better next time; I've just got to keep working towards that."

Swanepoel will face tough competition in his bid for a Commonwealth Games medal in his events, particularly from Australian Matt Welsh and South Africa's Roland Schoeman and Ryk Neethling.

The South African born swimmer is taking a break from swimming while working towards another type of flying - gaining his private pilot's licence at North Shore Aero Club.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY