By Elton Tucker, Assistant Sport Editor
ATHENS, Greece:
JAMAICA'S GREATEST ever swimmer, Janelle Atkinson, ends her Olympic career today when she swims in heat three of the women's 200 metres freestyle at the Olympic Aquatic Centre in Athens.
Janelle, who will celebrate her 22nd birthday on September 30, had her greatest moment four years ago at the Sydney Games.
She placed fourth in the women's 400m freestyle to become the first Jamaican female swimmer to reach an Olympic swimming final. She failed to reach the 400m freestyle final yesterday but has promised to give a grand farewell today.
"I am going for everything in the 200m freestyle. Right now it is my stronger event. That's what I have been training for all summer. The 400m freestyle was just to get warmed up for this one."
Her best time in the event is 2:03.27 and she is looking to get very close to that.
'LAST SHOT'
"Yes 2:03 is pretty much what I am hoping for. Even if I get a 2:04 I don't think I will be too disappointed. This is my last shot. After this, rest."
Janelle was 28th overall of 38 swimmers in the 400m freestyle heats yesterday.
Her final time was 4:20.00, well below the 4:08.79 she did in Sydney and despite the injuries which have dogged her career in the past two or three years, she felt she could have done better.
"I came up a bit short. I wanted to do 4:15 or better but I got a little excited in the beginning then panicked in the middle," said the swimmer who in 1999 became the first Jamaican to win a medal in the pool at the Pan Am Games. She took home three silver medals.
The leading qualifier, Laure Manaudou of France, clocked 4:06.76.
ALIA SETS PERSONAL BEST
Teenage swimmer Alia Atkinson set a personal best 1: 12.53 seconds in the 100m breaststroke but finished 32nd of 48 overall in the event.
Only the top 16 advanced to last night's semi-finals with the fastest qualifying time belonging to Australia's Brooke Hanson with 1:07.35.
Alia had expected a better time but was still satisfied with her performance.
"It was not a bad swim. I was looking at 1:11 but I lost it at the turn as I slowed down a bit. I feel great as 1:13 is not a bad time, especially at 15 years-old."
Two other Jamaican swimmers are still to take the pool. Angela Chuck will be in action in the women's 100m freestyle on Wednesday morning then on Thursday Jevon Atkinson, brother of Janelle, goes in the men's 50m freestyle.
Alia Atkinson (no relation to Janelle) is also entered for the 50m women's freestyle which starts on Friday's penultimate day of the swimming competition.
