23 September 2005
Two Monash students have been selected to the Australian team that will compete at next year's World Short Course Championships in Shanghai.
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| Melissa Mitchell |
Ms Melissa Mitchell, who is completing her first year of a Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) at the Caulfield campus, and Mr Brenton Rickard, who is completing his third year of a Bachelor of Science by distance education, will attend the championships in April.
Ms Mitchell competed in the Australian Short Course Championships last month where she placed fourth in the 50m and 200m freestyle events and fifth in the 100m freestyle.
She said she hadn't expected to make the World Short Course Championships team, and was only told a few minutes before it was announced.
"It's my first World Short Course Championships, so I'm pretty excited," she said.
"I'll be competing in the 4 x 100m and 4 x 200m relay events, which is fantastic.
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| Brenton Rickard |
"It's more international competition, and being in Shanghai means it's good preparation for the 2008 Olympics, which is also being held in China.
In July Ms Mitchell won a silver medal at the World Swimming Championships in Montreal, Canada, as part of the 4 x 200m freestyle team -- her first international medal.
Mr Rickard won four silver medals at the World Short Course Championships last year and is hoping to achieve gold this time.
"It's tough competition and no matter how much you prepare, you can only do your best possible swim on the day and hope it's enough," he said. | 
