Giaan Rooney, Australia's top female backstroker, and Athens gold medalist in the 400 medley relay, is looking at a return to the event that brought her to the top of the world.

Rooney was the 2001 World Champion in the 200m freestyle, but has concentrated mostly on backstroke since a dismal 7th place finish in the 200 free at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Backstroke was thought to be a weak leg for Australia in the absence of Dyana Calub, but Rooney proved she was ready, setting an Australian record for her leadoff leg in Athens, giving the team a great headstart to what culminated in Olympic gold and a new world record.

Though she has no intentions of giving up backstroke just yet, she does want to use her experience and leadership to fill the hole left in Australia's 800 freestyle relay in the absence of the newly-retired Petria Thomas. At just 21 years of age, Rooney has a long way to go before she can match Thomas' leadership potential, but she's up for the task, telling the Australian Associated Press, "If I can get as much fitness work done between now and March, it will enable me to do both (backstroke and freestyle) at the Australian titles and we'll see at the world championships whether I've got to choose one or the other."

Having just returned to training after a seven-week post-Olympic break, Rooney will compete next in the Melbourne edition of the Fina World Cup from November 26-28th.