Masters Swimmers prepare for World Championships in Italy

Masters Swimming NSW

Published: Jun 4, 2012 12:15:35 AM Updated: Jun 4, 2012 12:18:05 AM

PICTON gals Anna Barnes and Annie Cooke are double trouble when it comes to making a splash.

The masters swimmers like nothing better than stretching out and leaving others in their wake. They aspire to bettering their times every chance they get.

They’ll have the opportunity to do just that against the world’s best when they compete in the World Masters Swimming Championships in Riccione, Italy, from June 10 to 17.

Barnes, Cooke’s swimming coach at Wollondilly Leisure Centre, said they couldn’t wait.

Cooke, 68, will compete in the 50m freestyle, butterfly and backstroke events and 100m and 200m backstroke.

Barnes, 31, will race in the 100m breaststroke and butterfly, 200m butterfly, 200m and 400m individual medley and 3km open water race.

Cooke is experienced, having lined up in a previous four world titles.

Barnes, meanwhile, laughs and says she’s the amateur. She was with Cooke in Sweden two years ago and Perth four years ago, and she really enjoyed the experience.

``I’ve just seen the team lists; it’s going to be a really tough competition. A medal would be good but we’re just hoping for good times and even top 20 finishes,’’ Barnes said.

Source: MacArthur Chronicle: 2 June 2012