Just over a year ago, Jessicah Schipper returned from the Beijing Olympics with a relay gold and a pair of bronze medals. But the excitement was missing. ‘‘I definitely knew after the Olympics I couldn’t go back to Ken [Wood, her coach since childhood] ... it just wasn’t exciting any more ...,’’ Schipper said. ‘‘I just needed something new and new training partners and just a change.’’ Schipper decided to head along the same path as Leisel Jones, who had left Wood to join Stephan Widmer. ‘‘What I needed help with, my underwater work and my dives and everything. Stephan is the leader in that aspect, so he was always my first choice ... I don’t regret it at all,’’ she said. It was a life-changing year. She bought a house, and at the world titles in Rome, she shone, winning silver in the 100metres butterfly and 4x100m medley relay, then gold and a world record in the 200m butterfly final. She showed the same form at home when she broke the world short-course record for the 100m butterfly. Testimony to her year came when she was named Australian Swimmer of the Year, Swimmers’ Swimmer of the Year, and won the People’s Choice Award. Michael Cowley
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