Kent keen to maintain family

Titahi Bay's Steven Kent completed his domination of Surf Life Saving New Zealand's national pool championships in Wellington this weekend, swimming away with nine gold medals.

Now the exhausted Kent – backing up after also competing at Swimming New Zealand’s spring championships in Mount Maunganui last week - has set his sights on the 2012 London Olympics, trying to emulate older brother Dean.

Dean Kent retired after competing at his third Olympics in Beijing, with his 20-year-old brother poolside cheering him on.

“Beijing was an incredible experience– I came away so inspired and motivated to be in London in four years time,” Steven Kent, a 200m and 400m freestyle specialist, said.

Beijing came a month after Kent helped the New Zealand surf team to a silver medal at the world lifesaving championships in Germany and, although shattered, he’s keen to keep juggling both his sporting passions.

“I’m definitely keen to keep going with surf as well though – surf gives me the extra motivation to keep the training going and it’s a way to use all of your talent.
“I feel like there’s a bit of unfinished business at the worlds too, so if my schedule allows, I’d love to be there in two years to have another crack at the title.”

Kent won seven individual titles over the weekend, plus two relay golds with his Titahi Bay teammates. The Frank Tourelle-coached swimmer will now focus on World Cup swimming meets in Sydney and Singapore within the next month.

The other outstanding competitors at the pool champs were Lyall Bay’s Olympic swimmer Natasha Hind and Dunedin’s Carla Laughton, who won four golds each.

Lyall Bay comfortably won the overall club title, amassing 1545 points, with Gisborne’s Waikanae the next best on 971.