KEY POINTS:
BEIJING - Moss Burmester didn't eat at all on Sunday, his upset stomach rumbling as he got well acquainted with the porcelain in the Games village.
Tomorrow, just after 2.20pm NZT, there'll be inner churning of a different kind as he nervously dives into the Water Cube pool to chase New Zealand's first Olympic swimming medal in 12 years.
Burmester overcame two frustrating days of illness in the biggest week of his life to qualify seventh fastest from the 200m butterfly semifinals today.
That in itself was a feat, on a New Zealand scale. The previous black-capped Olympic finalist was Danyon Loader at Atlanta in 1996, en route to a golden double.
New Zealand coach Jan Cameron revealed Burmester endured a horror buildup, but was well managed by team medical staff and over the worst. There remained a positive feeling about a medal.
"I think he has more in there. He's had a bit of a funny tummy, something he ate. He'll be better tomorrow, I believe," Cameron said.
"He's a big-timer and he's been there and stood on the podium at the world (short course) champs in Manchester.
"You've got Michael Phelps who's outstanding, and the rest of it will be a bunfight."
Less than an hour after carving 0.90 second off the world 200m freestyle record and accepting his third gold medal, the American megastar qualified fastest in the 200m butterfly semis in one minute 53.70sec - still 1.61sec outside his own world record.
Burmester swam 1min 55.26sec, 0.27sec outside his personal best and New Zealand record, in finishing fourth to Japan's Takeshi Matsuda.
The Tauranga swimmer, whose parents Greg and Bronwen yelled loudly in their black "Go Moss Go" t-shirts, then had an anxious wait to see if he'd qualified.
He stood by the diving pool and craned his neck to watch the television as Phelps touched well clear, then held his breath for the rest.
He was in. One of the world's best, Poland's Pawel Korzeniowski, swam 0.09sec slower than Burmester to clinch the eight spot, while American Gil Stovall - who owned the world's second-fastest time in 2008 - just missed out.
"I knew it'd be touch and go. I knew I had to probably get third, fourth at least to get through," Burmester said.
"I was hoping to go a little bit quicker than that, but once I saw the second race I was happy."
It meant Burmester will swim in lane one, from which compatriot Paul Kingsman snatched bronze in the 200m backstroke in Seoul in 1988.
Burmester said he swam within himself in the heats, but was at full power today.
"I didn't feel bad but I still didn't feel great either."
Now it was back to the village to relax.
He still felt he could improve on his fourth at last year's world championships in an even field, behind Phelps. Less than a second separated qualifiers three to seven.
"It's a case of resting up and for the final you just find every little last reserve and give it everything.
"We'll find out (how I cope). It's always a little bit tough but I don't think it (nerves) will be too bad.
"It's going to be a close race and as you can see it's about who's going to step up in that final."
- NZPA
