Austrian most famous backstroke swimmer Markus Rogan expressed on Tuesday that his swimming career will at least continue to next summer, but instead of 200-meter backstroke, he will focus on short-distance races.
Rogan said in a statement released on Tuesday by his sponsor Austrian Raiffeisen Bank that he will take part in the World Swimming Championships, which will be held from July 18 to Aug. 2 next year in Rome, Italy, but will only focus on 50-meter and 100-meter backstroke races.
He also admitted that it will be a "new challenge" for his swimming career to turn to short-distance races. However he also said if everything goes well, he will "even take part in the London Olympic Games".
The 26-year-old Rogan set the world record of 200-meter backstroke at the World Short-course Swimming Championships in the United Kingdom early this year, and was also the gold medalist of 200-meter backstroke in 2008 European Swimming Championships.
He alone won two silver medals for men's 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke in 2004 Athens Olympic Games. However, Rogan took part in this year's Beijing Olympic Games on behalf of Austria as the biggest potential medal winner, but only got the fourth place in 200-meter backstroke.
Rogan said he has found the cause for this failure and is aiming at win a medal in next year's World Swimming Championships in Rome.
His sponsor Austrian Raiffeisen Bank also said that it will continue providing sponsorship and will take Rogan as the bank's image prolocutor. |
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