Jackson in E-Stars team to face US (From The Northern Echo)

Jackson in E-Stars team to face US

9:52am Thursday 26th November 2009

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RICHMOND Olympian Jo Jackson will be one of the star attractions as Europe’s leading swimmers take on the United States at the British Gas Duel in the Pool in Manchester next month.

Jackson and fellow Olympic and World medallist Rebecca Adlington will find themselves in the strange position of being on the same team as Italian rival Federica Pellegrini as the Manchester Aquatics Centre stages a Ryder Cup-style event on December 18-19.

Jackson, who began her career with Derwentside Swimming Club, will use the event to bring the curtain down on a successful year that has seen her win three World Championship medals as well as break the world record in the 400m freestyle.

Fourteen British swimmers have made the E-Stars European team, including the likes of world champions Gemma Spofforth and Liam Tancock, 100m freestyle runner-up Fran Halsall and Olympic open water silver medallist David Davies.

The E-Stars team also features 14 Italian and eight German swimmers, and the inclusion of Pellegrini is sure to add some spice.

Both Jackson and Adlington finished ahead of the Italian in the 400m freestyle at last year’s Olympics, and Jackson then lowered Pellegrini’s world record in Sheffield in March, before her rival wrested it back shortly before the World Championships.

A strong USA team will feature Michael Phelps, whose eight gold medals in Beijing broke Mark Spitz’s record for the most golds won at a single Olympic Games.

“This is going to be an exciting encounter for everyone involved, whether you’re a swimmer, coach or one of the thousands of spectators,” said British Swimming head coach Dennis Pursley, who will take charge of the E-Stars team.

“We’ve got a great opportunity to race many of the best athletes in the sport. I’m looking forward to presenting a strong challenge to the Americans in the first competition of its kind in Europe.”

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