FOOT BIDS FOR MEDAL REPEAT

York's Caroline Foot will be entering unchartered waters when she swims for England in this year's Commonwealth Games.

Despite all her years of experience, the 33-year-old has never competed in Malaysia and admits to knowing little about Kuala Lumpur where the Games will take place.

But Foot is confident of doing her country proud and hopes to repeat her success at the 1986 Games where she won silver.

"Things have changed in the Commonwealth Games in my event in the last few years. Australia are extremely strong and the South Africans are getting stronger.

"It would be nice to get a medal but my main aim will be to make the final then once you're there anybody has a chance at a medal."

Foot secured her place in the England team when she won the 100m butterfly at the national championships and Commonwealth trials at Sheffield.

But the York City Baths Club coach, who captained the women's team at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, claimed she had not been on top form after a gruelling few months which has taken her to Australia twice for the World Cup and World Championships.

"I've had quite a lot on this year and I've been rather tired over the last couple of months. I was going into the Commonwealth trials still feeling tired so I wasn't as confident as I've been before. And I wasn't well. I had a sore throat. It was a close race but it all worked out for me."

After a short break, Foot's next step is a two-day get-together with her England colleagues in Bath at the end of this month when they will be provided with more information about the conditions they will face in Malaysia.

Then at the end of August she flies to Penang to begin preparations before moving to the Games village a week before the competition begins on September 11.

"I've swum in Australia, New Zealand and Korea but I haven't swum in Malaysia," she revealed. "It will be very hot and humid so hydration is something I'm going to have to deal with. And the smog may be a problem."

But Foot will not be altering her training for the September event: "I'll just do the same as I always do. There's no point in changing everything. Everything we have done so far has worked."

Following her failure to reach the final in the 100m butterfly and 4x100m medley in the last Olympics, Foot took time out to consider her future.

She finally decided to continue and work towards these Commonwealth Games but she admits that, after they are over, she will once again have decisions to make.

"What I decide to do depends on my performance at the Games, how I feel about things and it depends on the facilities we have in York. There's a chance they might improve but if that doesn't happen that will affect things."

The possible new facilities relate to an Amateur Swimming Federation initiative. York is being considered as a venue for one of several Regional Performance Centres being set up by the governing body but it is still early days.

Foot revealed: "We have had an initial meeting. There are certain requirements that York as a club and as a city need to provide. One of the things we are lacking is pool time.

"It would be fantastic for York swimming if it happens but it's still in the early stages."

FINAL TARGET FOR YOUNG COLE

Mike Cole had to improve his personal best just to make it to the Commonwealth Games - and now the Scottish hopeful is confident he can go even quicker to make his mark in Malaysia.

The York City Baths Club swimmer made the qualifying time for the 200m individual medley last month but was only officially named in the Scotland team on July 1.

And because he is also ranked in his country's top three in other events, he will get four chances to bid for a medal at the September Games - the 200m and 400m individual medley and the 200m and 400m freestyle.

"I did the qualifying time at the Grand Prix final in June, I got half a second inside the time," revealed Cole. "I had to do a pb to qualify but I knew I could do it."

Cole, who has Scottish parents, was born in Dundee. He moved to Essex when he was two-years-old but his family settled in York 10 years ago and his swimming times have steadily improved.

It will be the first major championships for the 19-year-old who made his Scotland debut in a youth event in Athens in 1995 and represented Great Britain in the World Cup this year.

And though he will be facing some of the biggest names in world swimming, he is unfazed.

"I'm hoping to qualify for the finals. I'll have to improve my times to do that but I think it's perfectly within my capability. Then once you're in the final you have a shot at a medal."

Picking up a medal would be a dream come true for Cole, and though unlikely, he has nothing to lose.

"I'm looking forward to it. It will be a great experience. There's no real pressure on me, I'm not expected to go out there and win. In that way it's slightly easier.

"For myself I'd like to go out and improve, get more pbs. Basically I want to learn from it and have a good time!"

For now though, he is concentrating on ensuring he's on top form for the biggest event of his career so far.

"I feel good. I didn't swim well at the English nationals but there's plenty of time 'til the Games.

"I'm back into hard work now and then it'll taper off towards the Games so I'm at my sharpest."

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