Australian head coach Alan Thompson said?in Beijing on Sunday that he believed his swimmers, many of whom are world record holders, could cope well with the pressure-cooker atmosphere in Beijing.
"With 20 million people at home hoping you would do well, yes. (There is pressure.) But certainly, we see it as great support," said Thompson, who arrived at the Beijing International Airport with the Australian swimming squad.
The head coach told a swarm of reporters at the airport that his team's Kuala Lumpur training had helped swimmers stay away from public attention.
"Before we left home, a lot more people started talking about Olympic Games. It's probably the good time for us to move the team offshore," he said.
The Australian swimming team include multiple world record holders such as Libby Trickett, Leisel Jones and Grant Hackett.
Talking about the Australia's 16-year-old Olympic debutante Cate Campbell, Thompson said he would not be surprised if Campbell might get excited or even nervous in Beijing.
"The Olympic Games carrier a lot more excitement and a lot more attention. More experienced guys are used to that. But the young girls, like Cate and Emily (Seebohm), they just walk through. They probably walk through very wide-eyed."
"But I am sure the other guys will take them under their wing and take care of them," Thompson said.
Standing 184 cm, Campbell is reigning Olympic champion Jodie Henry's tip to produce a "surprise" in the 100 meter freestyle. The teenager is already the third fastest 100 meter freestyle swimmer in history and is equal third fastest in the 50 meter freestyle event.
Campbell will race against Trickett in the 50 meter freestyle and 100 meter freestyle in Beijing.
With 43 swimmers on board, the Australian swimming team are believed to be the strongest in the pool along with the United States. The team brought home 15 medals from the Athens Games, including seven golds.
(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2008)