Natalie Coughlin Impresses Australian Swimming Community

SYDNEY, Australia, January 11. NATALIE Coughlin, who is undoubtedly the backbone of the U.S. women's swim team as it rolls into the Beijing Games, has been on a world tour as of late. Her latest stop included some in Australia as she trained Down Under as well as competed at the Victorian Championships.

While her main goal during her travels is to focus her training on Beijing, there is an inherent ambassador duty when she steps foot in a different country. She's obviously fulfilling the role, as seen in a feature written by Nicole Jeffery of The Australian.

Jeffery writes about Coughlin's time at Sydney's Cronulla Beach as she cross-trains away from the pool. Coughlin also talks about her recent success, and her goals for the rest of the year in the article.

"I have been ready for [challenges in the 100 backstroke] for a while," Coughlin told The Australian as more women challenge the one-minute barrier. "For five years, I was the only one under the minute, but it was bound to happen. I am very confident. To win gold, I think, it's going to have to be faster than I have been before."

Full text of The Australian feature.

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