SPORTS> Stars
Rice adds new events to programme
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-02-03 16:16

SYDNEY - Australia's triple Olympic gold medallist Stephanie Rice is planning to increase her programme at this year's world championships in Rome.

Rice was the outstanding female swimmer at last year's Beijing Olympics, winning gold in the 200 and 400 metres individual medley and the 4x200 freestyle relay, all in world record time.

The 20-year-old will race in both medleys and 200 freestyle at the Australian trials in Sydney from March 17-22, but is adding another four events.

Rice will also enter the 100 and 200 butterfly, 100 backstroke and 100 freestyle, giving her a possible total of seven individual events plus the possibility of three relays.

Her coach Michael Bohl, however, said she would probably pull out of some of the extra events between the heats and finals if the workload became too much.

"Steph will definitely contest both medleys, the 200 freestyle and the 100 butterfly but the rest we will be playing by ear," Bohl said.

"It is important for her to keep racing, it is much better for her."