INQUIRER Sports

SYDNEY-- Australian swimming champion Leisel Jones said on Wednesday she could continue to train and become the nation's first swimmer to compete at four Olympics.

The three-time gold medallist, who this month broke two world shortcourse records in Berlin, has refused to rule out competing at the 2012 London Games.

"No one on the Australian team has ever done four Olympics -- it would be a pretty big thing if I chose to continue and physically there is no reason why I can't go on," Jones told Australian Associated Press.

"Physically I am in very good shape and I am actually enjoying the training, I like that side of things... There is no reason why I couldn't as I will only be 27 (in 2012) in London and that isn't very old."

The breaststroker -- who set an Olympic record in the 100m breaststroke at the 2008 Games -- would be a boost to the Australian team which saw Grant Hackett retire after
Beijing and with Libby Trickett still considering her future.

Jones won a place on the Australian team at just 14 years of age and swam a personal best in the 100m breaststroke final at the 2000 Sydney Olympics to win silver.