Oz swimmer D’Arcy eyeing leaving his mark, regaining respect during Delhi CWG

NEW DELHI - Australian butterfly swimmer Nick D’Arcy, who has waited two years to experience his first major Games, has said that he is hopeful of leaving a mark in the Delhi Commonwealth Games.

D’Arcy was removed from Australia’s 2008 Olympic team due to a violent altercation with former Commonwealth Games triple gold medalist Simon Cowley, that happened shortly after the Australian Olympic trials.

He was also removed from Australia’s team to the 2009 World Championships after being convicted for the same incident.

“I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time. Maybe, when I was younger, I took being part of the team for granted: I don’t do that any more. You only really know how much something means to you when it is taken away,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted D’Arcy, as saying.

“There’s obviously a bit of pressure and nerves that go with competing on the first day. Swimming on the first day, you do get the opportunity to set the tone for what happens in the meet. When someone swims well then it inspires everyone else to swim better,” he added.

The 23-year-old also accepts that he can only win back his lost reputation by swimming well, and exhibiting good behaviour.

“Obviously, everyone wants everyone to like them, but whether that’s a realistic goal for me at the moment is in question. Realistically, all I can do is swim fast and keep my nose clean, and that’s what I’ve been doing, and hopefully it does change a couple of peoples’ minds,” he said.

“I’m not naive and thinking a gold medal is going to change peoples’ opinions,” he added. (ANI)