Beijing: They are Australian world record holders who split up as a couple on the eve of making their Olympics debuts, but neither Stephanie Rice nor Eamon Sullivan are fazed by the media focus on them.
Sullivan, 22, and Rice, 20, shot to national stardom in Australia when they both smashed world records in Sydney at Olympic qualifying last March and promptly announced they were an item.
But on the eve of the Olympics, the pair announced they had broken off their relationship in late July, just before coming to Beijing, so as to not interfere with their dual bids to win Olympic gold.
They were briefly reunited when they sat side-by-side for the Australian swimming team's press conference in Beijing on Tuesday and an Australian journalist inquired about their current involvement.
"We are just good friends," insisted Sullivan, before sharing a smile with Rice.
But in sports-mad Australia, the media spotlight has shone brightly on the pair who were dubbed the 'Golden Couple', and insist they are just focused on the business in hand in a team full of current world record holders and potential stars in Beijing.
"This is all really new to me, I have never had such intense media interest before," said Rice, who holds the world record in the 200 metres individual medley.
"I am just enjoying it as much as I can and trying not to think too much about it. It is quite flattering what is written by the media, but when I am at the pool that is my sole focus, you read what is written, but don't dwell on it."
And Sullivan, the 50 metres freestyle world record holder, said: "It's not really pressure, we just have to go in there and do what we have to do with our preparation work done.
"We go through the race in advance and try not to think of the expectation on us and what people want us to do."
Team captain Grant Hackett, bidding for his third consecutive gold in the 1500 metres freestyle, offered the pair some tips having been an Australian celebrity ever since he won two gold medals at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
"From my point of view, it's just something you get used to and comfortable with," said the 28-year-old.
"You get a bit of notoriety and a higher profile, you also get a higher expectation on you.
"But you just need to draw back a bit focus on what needs to be done on a daily basis to compete and perform well to get the outcome.
"You can't worry about the distractions, like what is written, that is just a biproduct of being a successful swimmer in Australia.
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