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Something different Thompson races Australia's top lifesavers
Posted: Saturday January 08, 2000 12:00 AM
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Five-time Olympic swimming champion Jenny Thompson took an unusual break from her regular training routine Saturday to plunge into a portable pool in a beachside carpark. The American star, who is spending a month training at the Australian Institute of Sport to prepare for the Sydney Olympics in September, made a guest appearance at the One Summer Carnival Supercharge swimming event at Melbourne's Elwood Beach. "It was a lot of fun, although painful," Thompson said after winning two of three races against Australia's elite female lifesavers. "It's not something I'm used to, but I really enjoy it." "It's good to keep things fresh by doing a few different things -- it's definitely different with a pool near the beach in the parking lot and cricket (being played) in the background." Thompson won her event over-all, a series of three freestyle races over 100 meters, 50 meters and 100 meters, but 20-year-old Australian swimmer Lori Munz edged her in the last race. Thompson was scheduled to compete in the World Cup short course swimming event in Hobart on Jan. 13 and 14 but withdrew to concentrate on the second Australian round in Sydney on Jan. 17 and 18.
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