Leiston Pickett chasing a rare hat-trick of Commonwealth Games gold medals in the same event

THERE were times breaststroker Leiston Pickett just wanted to give up after missing out on the Rio Olympics but she now has the chance to join a select group of Australian athletes.

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LEISTON Pickett couldn’t work out why there were so many drivers on the road.

Didn’t they know the opening ceremony for the Rio Olympics was being broadcast? They should be sitting at home in front of their televisions watching the Australian team march into the Maracana Stadium.

It was the only place Pickett wanted to be.

But after missing out on making her second Olympic swimming team, the Gold Coast breaststroker was forced to watch on from half a world away.

Leiston Pickett is chasing a record third 50m breaststroke gold. Picture: Adam Head

“Sometimes you feel like your world is going to end,” Pickett said of the lows she experienced after missing out on selection for Rio.

“Missing out in 2016 and then experiencing the Olympics at home — which is never what I pictured and never what I wanted — made me realise that there’s a big, bad world out there.

“I remember the opening ceremony, I was driving in my car and the opening ceremony was on and I could hear a bit on the radio and I was like: ‘What are all these people doing on the road, they should be at home watching the opening ceremony’.

“I think it was at that point I realised the world doesn’t stop. You’ve still got to have things outside of swimming.

Leiston Pickett has really had to dig deep to make the team. Picture: Getty Images

“So I think that big learning lesson has created that balance and enabled me to continue swimming.”

The turnaround wasn’t immediate.

There were times Pickett wanted to quit. But the belief of Southport Olympic coach Glenn Baker and the drive to compete at a home Commonwealth Games kept Pickett in the pool.

On Thursday, the 26-year-old dives into action on the opening day of swimming competition at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, the pool where she has trained for the past decade and where she will attempt to join a select group of Australian athletes to have won the same event at three consecutive Games.

Pickett won the 50m breaststroke in Delhi as an 18-year-old before backing up in Glasgow four years ago.

Leiston celebrates her gold in Glasgow. Picture: Adam Head

And after battling injury, form dips and a rollercoaster of emotion since making her last senior Australian team four years ago, Pickett has the chance to write herself into history.

“It just would be so special to get a third title,” said Pickett, who ran through Southport in the Queen’s Baton Relay on Monday.

“I’m quite proud of just getting here and making the team. I haven’t been on the team for four years.

“It’s been quite a hard battle and after 2016, I sort of didn’t really know if I was going to push on through — I probably hit the low of lows in sport.

“To be able to come back here and be able to represent my country at my home pool, it gives me goosebumps.

“It makes me emotional even thinking about it.”

Pickett said there were plenty of times she didn’t believe it would happen.

Pickett (centre) relegated teammate Leisel Jones to silver in Delhi.

But the belief of Baker kept driving her dreams and a better balance outside swimming — she is now working at Gold Coast accounting firm WMS Solutions and finishing her degree at Griffith University.

“Without a doubt there were times I didn’t think I’d make it. But my coach always believed in me even when I didn’t,” she said.

“I know it sounds a bit clichéd but there were certain times when I didn’t think I could do it and also didn’t want to do it as well.

“Even last year I said to my coach: ‘I’m a bit over it, I just don’t want to do it any more. I just can’t wait for these Games to be over’.

“And he was like: ‘What?’

“I was at that point and I really had to make the decision what pathway I went on, so I’m pretty happy.”

Originally published as Leiston Pickett chasing a rare hat-trick of Commonwealth Games gold medals in the same event