Swimming: Federica Pellegrini adds spice to Manchester event

Published on Wednesday 25 November 2009 22:43

WORLD and Olympic medallists Rebecca Adlington and Jo Jackson will find themselves in the unusual position of being on the same team as Italian rival Federica Pellegrini after the European side was announced for next month's British Gas Duel in the Pool in Manchester.

The E-Stars comprise 14 British, 14 Italian and eight German swimmers who will take on a strong USA side, including Michael Phelps, at the Manchester Aquatics Centre on 18-19 December.

As well as Adlington and Jackson, world champions and world record holders Gemma Spofforth and Liam Tancock will feature as will 100m freestyle runner-up Fran Halsall. Olympic open water runner-up David Davies also swims, while Robbie Renwick, Hannah Miley and Caitlin McClatchey are the three Scots involved.

The E-Stars also feature the likes of world 1,500m freestyle world champion Alessia Filippi – who kept Adlington out of the medals in the 800m freestyle this summer – former world champion Filippo Magnini and Daniela Samulski, three-time medallist at this year's worlds in Rome.

Notable absentees, though, are Paul Biedermann, who took Phelps' world title in Italy, and Britta Steffen, double sprint freestyle world champion and winner ahead of Halsall over two lengths at the Foro Italico.

However, the presence of Pellegrini – one of the world's best swimmers – will add some extra spice. Both Adlington and Jackson finished ahead of Pellegrini in the 400metres freestyle at last year's Olympics as the pair collected gold and bronze medals. Jackson then lowered the Italian's world record over eight lengths in Sheffield in March before Pellegrini wrested it back shortly before the worlds.

The 21-year-old then became the first woman to swim 400m under four minutes as she led in Jackson and Adlington in Rome and also lowered her own world record in the 200m free.

The E-Stars team will be led by British Swimming head coach Dennis Pursley who said: "This is going to be an exciting encounter for everyone involved whether you're a swimmer, a coach or one of the thousands of spectators.

"We've got a great opportunity to race many of the best athletes in the sport and all in our own back yard.

"I'm very much looking forward to presenting a strong challenge to the Americans with athletes from Britain, Italy and Germany in the first competition of its kind in Europe."

What is unclear as yet is what the swimmers will be wearing as the clock ticks down on the supersuits. Phelps has already stated he will be in the 2010 textile cut, which he wore in the recent World Cup series.

BRITISH POOL

D Davies Loughborough

J Goddard Stockport

T Haffield Cardiff

M Rock Stockport

L Tancock Loughborough

C Walker Bath

R Renwick Glasgow

R Adlington Nova Centurion

F Halsall Loughborough

J Jackson Loughborough

H Miley Garioch

E Simmonds Loughborough

G Spofforth Portsmouth

C McClatchey Loughborough