Smith’s next target is place in Commonwealth Games

KIDDERMINSTER swimmer Amy Smith has turned her attentions to the Commonwealth Games after bringing the curtain down on her European Short Course campaign.

The 22-year-old bowed out of the competition after clocking 24.75 seconds in her 50m freestyle semi-final in Istanbul.

Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands led the way — stopping the clock at 24.75 secs — with Josefin Lillage of Sweden second in 24.28.

Despite heading home empty-handed, the Wyre Forest Swimming Club member insists she’s desperate to take in the Delhi Games in 2010.

“I’m pleased with that, it’s not a personal best but it’s a good way to sign off from the competition,” said Smith.

“It’s one of my main events so I would have been really gutted if I hadn’t made the semi but I did so I can enjoy the occasion.

“I was on the outside but if you get a lane you’re in the contest so I gave it my all.

“It’s back training all the way up to Christmas now and then I’ll start planning how I can hit the trials hard.

“I want to get to the Common-wealth Games, I went to Melbourne in 2006 and it was an amazing experience. Even if it’s just as a member of the relay squad I’ll take it because it is such a good event.”

The Istanbul championships represented the final opportunity for international swimmers to pull on the controversial go-faster suits that have set world records tumbling this year.

After forming part of Great Britain’s relay squad at the World Championships in Rome where 43 new records were set, Smith admits she’'ll watch with interest when the first results of 2010 come in.

“I’m not sure how it’s going to change things but it seems pretty certain that it’s going to hit different people in different ways,” added Smith.

The nation’s leading energy supplier, British Gas, is the principal partner of British swimming, suppor-ting the sport at all levels: ‘From paddling pool to podium’.