Golden girl Bronte Barratt sick of Canberra and quits Australian Institute of Sport

LONDON BOUND: Bronte Barratt (right, pictured at the Beijing Olympics) has quit the AIS to continue her 2012 London Olympic campaign in Brisbane. Source: AFP

Barratt, who won Australia's heart as part of the victorious 4x200m Olympic freestyle team, moved to Canberra in September 2009 after her coach, John Rodgers, was poached by the University of Toronto in Canada.

She said despite enjoying working with Ian Thorpe's former coach, Tracey Menzies, at the AIS, a post-Delhi Commonwealth Games break in Brisbane after an injury-plagued year had confirmed where she wanted to be.

"I came back to Brisbane for my break and I just thought I was a lot happier there," Barratt said.

"I was just homesick. I missed my family and my friends and just Queensland in general.

"And it was cold (in Canberra) all the way from April through to November, which probably didn't help."

She said once the decision had been made she had had to move quickly because 2011 was her year to finally shine.

"I thought being two years out from the Olympics, if I'm going to move, I have to move now," Barratt said.

"I think I'm definitely on track and I'm really looking forward to (world championship) trials (in April) this year."

Barratt has joined forces with super coach Michael Bohl in Indooroopilly alongside her relay teammate and triple Olympic gold medallist Stephanie Rice.

Under Bohl's guidance she is contesting the Summer Swim Series in North Sydney this weekend.

Each swimmer in the series, including stars Libby Trickett, Meagen Nay, Leisel Jones, Stephanie Rice, Christian Sprenger, Brenton Rickard and Emily Seebohm, has been put into one of four teams captained by legends Linley Frame, Susie O'Neill, Michael Klim and Matt Welsh.

Barratt said while the St Peters Western squad had been quick to accept her, training with Rice had also provided a sympathetic shoulder to lean on.

Both Barratt and Rice have had shoulder operations, after struggling with painful and debilitating injuries.

"All of 2009 I struggled with shoulder issues and didn't really train properly the whole year," Barratt said.

"Then I had shoulder surgery at the end of 2009, but last year was still pretty on and off because of it, as were my results.

"But this year I'm feeling pretty good."