Swimming: Olympic team buoyant after impressive showing

New Zealand's leading swimmers completed an encouraging shakedown ahead of next month's Athens Olympics during a two-day meet against the powerful Australian team in Brisbane.

The Kiwi squad, still in big mileage training, enjoyed four podium placings on the second night at the Chandler Centre.

New Zealand were led by the North Shore quartet of Helen Norfolk, Hannah McLean, Corney Swanepoel and Dean Kent.

Norfolk was second in the women's 400m individual medley in a time just outside her qualifying performance. McLean was also second, pipped by 0.04s by Melissa Morgan in the 200m backstroke.

Swanepoel was equal third in a remarkable 100m butterfly behind former world champion Geoff Huegill, with the entire field within 0.6s. And Kent was third in the men's 200m individual medley in an encouraging show of form.

The New Zealanders qualified for nine finals on Saturday night after making eight finals on the first night.

"Overall it was an encouraging two days. The swimmers are still in big mileage, and still will be for another two weeks," said national coaching director Clive Rushton.

"This has given our swimmers a fantastic chance for some very hard racing against some of the world's best. It's been a good indicator of the level of preparation in terms of Athens.

"There were some very, very encouraging performances across the board."

Rushton was delighted with the efforts from Norfolk and Kent, who have both rediscovered top form.

"Helen is a classy swimmer who is enjoying her swimming and is very impressive, while Dean has really put in the work since the Olympic trials, which is very pleasing. The whole squad has worked hard and is developing well."

He said the only swimmers slightly down were Counties Manukau freestyler Rebecca Linton, who had a serious ear infection, and Christchurch breaststroker Annabelle Carey, who had completed a six-day transtasman series last week.

There was no time for the team to bask in their efforts. The squad caught the late flight out of Brisbane on Saturday night and are back in the pool today.