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‘I’ll bounce back’

Daniel Schofield
13/12/2006

STOCKPORT swimmer James Goddard failed to medal at the European short course Championships in Helsinki, but has vowed to bounce back in style in 2007.

The Commonwealth gold medallist was a whisker away from a medal in the 200m backstroke, finishing fourth behind Romania's Razvan Florea by a fraction of a second.

But the 23-year-old insists the real business starts at the World Championships in Melbourne in March.

"I'm happy with how I swam, but I'm still disappointed to miss out on a medal," said Goddard.

"It was more about the performance than the result, but fourth place is disappointing for any athlete.

"I put in two solid swims which I have not done for a long time.

"I can now take that all on board and get down to some serious training for the World Championships in Melbourne.

"That is where it matters and it will be doubly important in the year before the Olympics."

Goddard was also unlucky not to progress in the 100m backstroke after posting a respectable time of 54.02 seconds.

Yet with only two Brits able to qualify for the semi-finals, Matt Clay and Gregor Tait posted marginally quicker times to qualify at his expense.

But after suffering a spate of injuries in 2006, Goddard insists he was nowhere near his best for the meet.

He said: "I say I am running at about 80 per cent capacity.

"I picked up an injury last week and have had problems with my back.

"The 100m was really competitive. There were four British lads competing but only two could go through so it was real 'dog eat dog'.

"I have not been in the perfect condition for swimming, but there is definitely more to come.

"When the World Championships come around I will be rested and ready to challenge for medals again."