Swimming: Coach confident of relay teams' chances

New Zealand swimming coach Clive Rushton is confident three relay teams have qualified for the Athens Olympics.

Swimming's world governing body, Fina, will confirm the final relay qualifiers on Monday but Swimming New Zealand director of coaching Rushton is sure all three teams will get the nod.

The cut-off for qualifying was yesterday in Europe, and Rushton believes the men's and women's medley and women's freestyle teams are all inside the mark.

The top 12 teams from last year's world championships automatically qualify as do those with the next four fastest times set in Fina meets until June 30.

The men's 4x100m medley team are currently ranked 14th and times recorded by the women's 4x100m medley and 4x200m freestyle teams rank them 15th.

"Unless there are some mystery meets around the world over the weekend that we were not aware of then I believe we will make it. And that will be fantastic news for those individuals, for our Olympic team and for swimming in this country," Rushton said.

An enlarged squad of 13 in Athens would help the team dynamic and training, he said.

"It would also give another group of swimmers this vital Olympic experience as we look further ahead to the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games and to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

"It will have a real spinoff back in their home clubs. I know there will be a huge sigh of relief and celebration if the news is positive on Monday."

Four of the six-strong team already named for Athens are included in the relay squads - the North Shore quartet of Corney Swanepoel, Cameron Gibson, Helen Norfolk and Hannah McLean.

If confirmed they will be joined by Alison Fitch, Scott Talbot-Cameron, Liz Coster, Ben Labowitz and Natalie Bernard (all North Shore), Anabel Carey (Wharenui, Christchurch) and Rebecca Linton (Howick Pakuranga).

- NZPA