Swimming: Qualified offers

The chance of last-gasp Olympic selection comes with a note of caution from Swimming NZ, writes DAVID LEGGAT


The Olympic door is not completely closed on swimmers who fail to post a qualifying time in their specialist events.

But Swimming New Zealand director of coaching Clive Rushton insisted that giving swimmers a pass into their preferred events through a back door route at this week's national championships won't be done lightly.

The situation arose when medley expert Dean Kent missed out on making either the A standard set by the world governing body, Fina, or the Swimming NZ B mark in the 400m individual medley final.

Kent's sights are now on the 200m individual medley tonight. If he can dip under 2m 04.11s, which is well within his capabilities, he will revive the hope of doubling up in the 400m individual medley in Athens.

As no swimmer managed to qualify over the longer distance, New Zealand can still put a name up for the spot, and Kent's credentials are the strongest.

It's a two-for-the-price-of-one situation, but if Kent misses out in the shorter event it's curtains to Athens all round.

"There are various levels of qualifying standards, but if he qualifies in the 200m which is probably his stronger event, I see no reason at all why he couldn't be entered in the 400," Rushton said.

"He's previously been ranked No. 12 in the world. If he qualifies in any event, then providing places are open in other events, we'd have no problem entering him.

"There's a minimum standard the IOC would accept, but he's so far ahead of that it wouldn't be an issue at all."

There are others who could benefit from that policy.

Otago's versatile Liz van Welie, like Kent a 2000 Olympian and still looking for an Athens time, swims the 200m butterfly today.

The A qualifying time is 2m 11.95s. She should qualify but if she doesn't, she has a backup, in the shape of the 200m individual medley tomorrow.

It sounds like a university cross-credit system, but essentially van Welie could then take a place in the 200m butterfly on the strength of her 200m individual medley performance.

"Basically what they're swimming for is selection to the Olympic team," Rushton said. "Once they're selected to that team the option is open to enter them in whatever events are available, providing they've got a reasonable standard."

So here's another scenario: a swimmer misses qualifying in their specialist event, but attains an Athens time in a relay of a different discipline.

Under that situation, the swimmer could still get to do his or her specialist event in Athens.

Rushton pointed to van Welie's situation at the Manchester Commonwealth Games two years ago. Her two big events, the 400m individual medley and 200m butterfly, were both on the final day.

"If she'd only done those she'd have been sitting round twiddling her thumbs. We put her in the 100m butterfly at the beginning of the meet just to get her into the meet itself."


But Rushton added a cautionary note to those with an eye on slipping through on the strength of a relay performance.

"Getting in via a relay, although they are important, kind of indicates that the preparation hasn't gone as well as they wanted it to."