Lotte Friis Talks to European Short Course Organizers Before Meet Next Month

BALTIMORE, Maryland, November 12. LOTTE Friis’ (DEN) worst nightmare became reality at the Olympics in 2012 — what she expected to be her greatest success ever became her biggest disappointment. The year after the Olympics was rough but this year Lotte swam a fantastic 800m and 1500m free at the World Championships in Barcelona — showing herself, and everybody else, that she is still a swimmer to count on!

It is not a secret that you had a hard time finding the motivation to continue your swimming career since, what you called your worst nightmare became reality at the Olympics in 2012. But what have you actually done in order to move on?
– I moved to Nice. Living in another country, new surroundings, a new culture, a new coach, new friends and other people to train with — all this made me happier, got me new motivation, made me want to swim again in order to show the world that I was still a swimmer to count on.

Since you moved to Nice in 2012 your results have been improving and latest you swam an outstanding swim in the 800 free and a thrilling 1500 free against American Katie Ledecky at the World Championships in Barcelona. In August you headed to NORTH Baltimore, USA to train under the well-known Bob Bowman. Why did you decide to move from Nice and why was NORTH Baltimore the right choice for you?
– I was told that in Nice the training this autumn would not be as intensive as I wanted, due to the fact that Europeans in Herning is not a priority to the Nice-swimmers and a lot of new swimmers was to be included at the Elite team in the Club. Since I wanted to be 100% ready for Herning, Nick and I decided that I had to swim somewhere else for the rest of 2013. At World Cup in August, I talked to some of the swimmers from Baltimore. I met Bob Bowman and I had a long talk with him and then it was decided that I should go to Baltimore to train in NBAC.

I assume that your preparations towards the European SC Championships are being made. With one month to the European Championships, how does a typical practise day look for you?
– I practice twice a day in the pool, Saturday only once, Sunday I have the day off 🙂 I do dryland once a day and make a run 3-4 times a week.

Which races will you be competing in at the European Championships in Herning 2013? And who do you feel are your biggest competitor(s)?
– I will swim 800m, 400m and 200m freestyle. I think my biggest competitors are Mireia Belmonte (ESP), Jaz Carlin (GBR) and Federica Pellegrini (ITA).

The European Short Course Championships 2013 are hold in Denmark; do you think that it will make any difference for you that the championship is on home ground?
– Yes. I hope there will be a lot of support from the Danish audience, I imagine it will be very intense, shouting and support to the Danish team, it will be great, no, it will be more than great 😉

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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