Swimming: Kent faces American obstacle at champs

A new phenomenon has emerged in world swimming, and he is blocking New Zealander Dean Kent's lane.

American Michael Phelps is being compared with Australian great Ian Thorpe as the world's premier swimmer after shattering his own world 400m individual medley record this week.

Just 10 minutes after his stunning 4m 10.73s second swim at the US-Australia meet in Indianapolis, 17-year-old Phelps went within 0.03s of the world 100m butterfly mark.

Kent, New Zealand's leading medal prospect at the July world championships in Barcelona and next year's Athens Olympics, admitted that he was in awe of what Phelps was achieving. He looks forward to testing himself against the tall American in Barcelona.

"It will be a real mission for everyone to try to get to his level at least before we can think of getting anywhere near to beating him. It will be a special performance to take him down," Kent said.

"If he's got one weakness it's his breaststroke, but he's only a couple of seconds slower than what I do."

Kent, aged 24, won three 400m IM gold medals at World Cup meets in Europe in January; his time in Berlin of 4m 06.66s was the quickest by anyone in the world over a 25m short-course pool for two years.

However, Kent's best long-course time is 4m 19.04s, more than 8s outside Phelp's remarkable swim.

The Aucklander was 10th at the last world championships two years ago in Fukuoka, but his times have improved considerably since.

The New Zealand championships, starting in Wellington on Sunday, will directly affect the number of swimmers sent to Athens.

Twelve of the 16 relay teams to race at the Olympics will be determined in Barcelona. And the other four will be decided by world body FINA. Kent suspects traditionally weak nations such as Kenya would get the nod over New Zealand if it came to a straight choice.

Kent is most confident about forming a strong 4x100m medley team, buoyed by the emergence of South African-born Aucklander Corney Swanepoel.

Scott Talbot and Cameron Gibson were capable backstrokers, and Gibson or youngster Mark Herring could fill the freestyle role.

- NZPA