Libby Trickett won’t rule out a comeback. Photo: AP Photo Libby Trickett last night said she would consider an SOS call from Australian officials hoping to lure the former world champion back into the fold to help fend off a slide down the rankings. Acting national head coach Leigh Nugent, who took on the position when Alan Thompson resigned last Friday, and who is favoured to hold onto the role, yesterday confirmed he was likely to call Trickett to ask her to return to the pool. His confirmation came after Bill Sweetenham, who has held positions as Australian head coach and British national performance director, yesterday told The Age that Australia faced a result at the Commonwealth Games that would put it significantly behind Great Britain in the lead-up to the 2012 London Olympics – and that the team needed Trickett back not only for her performances in the pool but for her leadership. Trickett, who retired late last year, said she would ”never say never” but with commitments outside the pool – she will be working for a television station at next month’s national titles – she would only consider it if she was asked to come back. ”I’m shocked to hear something like that but it’s flattering as well to think that I would be able to make some difference in what’s going on at this point in time,” Trickett said. ”I’d absolutely consider it … [but only] if someone gave me a call and desperately wanted me to come back for some reason and I agreed with those reasons.” She would not try to make a comeback in time for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October but would consider a return in the lead-up to the London Olympics. Sweetenham believed Trickett should be tempted back. ”If I was involved in Australian swimming my advice would be to talk to Libby Trickett and try to convince her to put her costumes back on for the relays. … Her leadership on the team I think is crucial for success for Australia. She can be a linchpin that I would be trying to work on. I think she would make a great team captain and great team leader going into the Commonwealth Games and London.” Nugent said: ”She’s an outstanding athlete and it would be worth a call. I might be making some investigations in that area down the track.”
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Officials hope to lure Trickett back to pool