Swimming: Van Welie's swim title hints at medal

Olympian Elizabeth Van Welie has won her first World Cup swimming title in a New Zealand record time.

Van Welie, aged 21, of Dunedin, captured the short-course 200m butterfly in Stockholm in a time of 2m 11.38s. It beat her own national record by a massive 2.30s.

She follows in the footsteps of Danyon Loader and is the second member of Duncan Laing's squad to win a World Cup title.

Laing believes Van Welie has the potential to win a medal in the event at next year's Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

"Now that the top Australian girl [Susie O'Neill] has retired, Liz would be in the top four in the Commonwealth," Laing said.

"It was a thrill to see that Liz is up there with the best butterfly swimmers in the world."

It was the second meeting of her "quickfire" World Cup campaign in Europe, and she races again in Paris this weekend.

An excited Van Welie telephoned her mother, Ruth Van Welie, in the early hours of yesterday to tell her the news.

It was the sixth New Zealand open women's record in Van Welie's career.

She also holds the national long-course record in the event in 2m 11.62s. That was set in the semifinals of the Sydney Olympics.

Van Welie made several finals when she competed in World Cup events last year, but this was the first time she had won a medal.

Laing said Van Welie had achieved her success because of her hard and diligent training.

"She's a hard trainer, she knows what she wants and does not miss any training sessions."

Van Welie has set her next goals towards this year's world championships in Japan and the Commonwealth Games at Manchester.

"Liz is still as keen as ever and this is good for the younger members of our squad who train with her," Laing said.

"She is a good example to the younger swimmers. No matter what the competition, she always tries her hardest."

Laing said that Van Welie became race hardened during last year's World Cup circuit in Europe and it helped her to perform well enough to reach the semifinals at the Sydney Olympics.

Van Welie was the best performed New Zealand swimmer at Sydney and this has given her the incentive to continue in the sport for at least another four years.

- NZPA