Swimming: Seventh swimmer books for Sydney

DUNEDIN - When Dunedin student Jonathan Duncan watched a video of himself winning the 400m freestyle at the national swimming championships just over a week ago, he knew he could qualify for the Olympics.

Duncan, aged 18 and a member of Duncan Laing's squad, won that race easily in 3m 56.71s, just 0.71s, or half a metre, short of the qualifying mark.

Duncan was pushed to the Olympic mark at the Australian age-group championships in Perth on Monday night when he swam 0.3s under the qualifying time.

It was a personal best time by 0.97s, set when he finished second in 3m 55.74s in the final of the 17 and 18 years age-group at the national championships.

Laing believes Duncan could also reach the qualifying mark of 1m 51s in the 200m freestyle, where his best time is 1m 52.94s.

It was a remarkable effort by Duncan, whose progress was slowed by glandular fever last year. He became depressed by his lack of energy at that time and contemplated giving away the sport.

"The trip we made to the World Cup short-course events in Europe early this year paid off," Laing said, adding that Monday night's time would have qualified Duncan for the Olympic teams of most European countries, the United States and South Africa.

"If we can get his times down to 3m 50s he could make the final," Laing said.

Other swimmers from the Laing squad with a chance of qualifying are Danyon Loader, Scott Talbot-Cameron, Lara McCambridge and Elizabeth Van Welie. They will be competing in only the heats of the Australian championships in Sydney next month.

Duncan joins Scott Talbot-Cameron, Steven Ferguson, Nikki Tanner, Helen Norfolk, Dean Kent and Toni Jeffs as swimmers who have qualified for the Olympics.

- NZPA