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UK loss is gain for Aussie swimming

Elly Gandy has seen the light.

At the last Olympics, she swam as a Brit. At the next Olympics, she wants to swim as an Aussie.

This weekend, the 200m butterfly silver medallist at the 2011 world championships will get her first real taste of swimming for her adopted country when she races in the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series at Challenge Stadium.

Born in England in 1991, Gandy moved to Melbourne with her family in 2007.

But she decided to race for Britain at the Olympics in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012.


After a disappointing London Olympics, Gandy decided to become an Australian and sat out of competition for a year while she waited for her citizenship.

"London was really difficult," Gandy said. "Being part of the British team was the most pressure I have ever felt and I didn't really enjoy London as much as I did Beijing because I think I just let the pressure get to me.

"It was good to have a year out and reassess what I was doing and why I was actually swimming.

"I feel in a much better mind space and I am so happy to be part of the Australian team and I do feel like 2014 is going to be a big year."

The Aquatic Super Series starts at Challenge Stadium on Friday, with swimmers from Australia, China, South Africa, Brazil and Japan competing for $500,000 in prizemoney.