Libby Trickett - 2008 Beijing Olympics

2008 Beijing Olympics

At the Beijing Olympics, Trickett's first final was the 4×100 m freestyle capturing a bronze medal, despite setting a new Australian record. Her next final was the 100 m butterfly in which she captured Gold setting a new Australian record, making her the second fastest in that event in history. Trickett's next event was the 100 m freestyle, where she was the world record holder. Trickett was ahead of world record pace in the first 50m but was overtaken in the last few meters by rival Britta Steffen who captured the gold. Trickett later contested the 50 m freestyle (another event she was the world record holder) but did not get on the podium finishing just outside the medals in fourth. In what seemed to be a terrible Olympics for Trickett, things finally turned when her last event was the 4×100 m medley relay. In what was a competitive race at early on, turned in the Aussies favor down the stretch as they captured gold and a new world record.

After the Olympics Trickett split with Widmar, who had coached her from before she made her debut for Australia. Trickett said that she needed a change to rejuvenate her. She joined the Sopac Swim Club under Grant Stoelwinder in Sydney. Stoelwinder is a sprint coach and currently mentors Eamon Sullivan.

Trickett had a great start to the 2009 World Championships, capturing bronze in the 4×100 m freestyle relay, setting an Australian record in the lead off. Her next individual performances were somewhat anti-climactic, in the 100 m freestyle she finished with another bronze and finished 5th in the 50m Freestyle. and the final night she anchored the medley relay to a silver.