42 Aussie swimmers headed to Beijing
March 29, 2008
On a night that once again saw a world record broken the Australian swim team to compete at the Beijing Olympics was announced.
42 swimmers were selected. In order to make the team competitors were required to finish first or second in a final as well as go under the A qualifying time.
The Australian Olympic swim team comprises 22 women and 20 men. Ten coaches will also make the trip to Beijing.
The average age of the team is 21.26. The oldest team member is father of two, Adam Pine. He is 32 years and 30 days. Contrasting this is Emily Seebohm who at 15 years and 297 days is the youngest on the team.
Grant Hackett is the team captain. Hackett will be chasing history by trying to become the first swimmer to win three consecutive 1500m gold medals. Hackett stopped his long time rival, Keiran Perkins from achieving that feat when he won the gold medal in Sydney in 2000.
The unluckiest swimmer perhaps is Adam Lucas. He came in second in both medley events however missed the team as he did not meet the qualifying standard.
Grant Hackett, Adam Pine, Ashley Callus and Leisel Jones will all be making their third appearance at an Olympic Games when they represent Australia as part of the Australian swimming team for Beijing.
A list of the Australian Swim team for Beijing is on the Swimming Australia website. The status of Nick D’Arcy is in doubt, see Australian swimmer Nick D’Arcy charged with assault.
Update: 18 April it was announced that Nick D’Arcy was dropped from the swim team to go to Beijing in August.
Tricket breaks another world record
March 29, 2008
Libby Trickett has completed a superb meet at the Australian swimming Olympic trials. This time she has broken the world record in the 50m freestyle.
Trickett hit the wall and stopped the clock at 23.97 to become the first woman to break the 24 second barrier. In doing so she snatched the record from Dutchwoman Marleen Veldhuis. It was a record set only 5 days ago. The previous mark was 24.09.
Australia now has the world record for both woman and men following Eamon Sullivan’s world record swim last night.
It makes you wonder just how much of an impact the new wonder suits are having on world times. Just in this meet alone eight world records have been set.
Following the meet tonight the Australian swim team was announced for the Beijing Olympics.
Sullivan’s 50m record lasts one day
March 28, 2008
Earlier this week we saw an Australian swimmer break a world record only to have it beaten the next day. The same thing happened today but ain’t it sweet when you are the one breaking the world record.
That is what happened with the men’s 50m freestyle. Last night Eamon Sullivan got back his 50m world record from Frenchman Alain Bernard . Tonight he was able to better that remarkable swim from last night.
The Aussie swimmer stopped the clock at 21.28seconds to improve his mark set last night of 21.41s by 0.13s at the Sydney Olympic pool.
A few nights ago Sullivan came oh so close to claiming the 100m world record. He was just 2 100th of a second from the world mark set by Alain Bernard.
The tough part is now to be at the top of his form when swimming in Beijing.
Trickett 100m world record official this time!
March 28, 2008
Thursday night at the Australian swimming team Olympic selection trials saw two world records fall. The first went to Libby Trickett formerly Lenton.
Having been the first woman to ever swim 100m in under 53 seconds in a swim against Michael Phelps last year Trickett was keen to officially enter the record books as the fastest woman. The previous time of 52.99 was not ratified by Fina.
Last night she smashed through the 53 second barrier by completing two laps at Sydney’s Olympic pool in a time of 52.88. Trickett was clearly excited with her fantastic time. She also had a bit of a go at Fina for having not recognising her past effort.
One notable absentee from the 100m final was Athens gold medalist Jody Henry who unfortunately is out of the Beijing Olympics due to injury.
Second in the race was 15 year old Sally Foster in a time of 53.81.
For more results visit the Australian Swimming website.
