Olympic 100m breaststroke champion Leisel Jones did a Thorpey (entry 60 in our top 100 memories of the past decade) at her little pool nationals this morning in Brisbane: at the start of the 50m breast heats, the multiple world champion and record holder toppled in before 'go' was given and found herself out of the race.
Jones, 25, had made herself available for selection as a Dolphin at the FINA World s/c Championships in Dubai in December. Her DQ is not that drastic: she will still be gunning for places in the 100m and 200m breaststroke, her better events when it comes to medal success in international waters.
Rohan Taylor, who coaches Jones at Nunawading swim club in Melbourne, told reporters Down under: "I spoke to Leisel and she just lost balance on the blocks and couldn’t stop herself and fell in. These things happen. Coming into the meet she was more focussed on the 100m and 200m events and will look to concentrate on them later in the week."
In the absence of Jones, Leiston Pickett progressed at the helm, on 30.69, ahead of backstroke ace Emily Seebohm (31.13) and world championship bronze medallist Sarah Katsoulis, on 31.16. Finals action coming up later in the day.
