Foster Fury

[lane4]

Mark Foster has not been selected for the 50 freestyle at the World Champs next month despite ranked #2 in the world so far this year. He did the selection time in a time-trial at the North Eastern Counties Champs but the selectors have ignored it as it wasn't part of the meet. Foster has apparently appealed to the ASFGB and said he might not go for the 50 fly if not picked for the 50 free also. He might also consider legal action on the basis of the wording of the selection policy.

Do you think the selectors were correct to leave him out or is it a travesty that we wont have one of the world's best and a good medal chance in the event?

[Allets]

I think it is not very good to leave Foster out of the selection. It is a no win situation for Sweetenham. If he lets him go he breaks his own set rule. If he doesn't let him go there will probably be uproar in the swimming community because he is number two in the world in 50 free. What would you suggest to do?

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My name is Backwards
sdrawkcaB si eman yM

[Allets]

I think it is not very good to leave Foster out of the selection. It is a no win situation for Sweetenham. If he lets him go he breaks his own set rule. If he doesn't let him go there will probably be uproar in the swimming community because he is number two in the world in 50 free. What would you suggest to do?

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My name is Backwards
sdrawkcaB si eman yM

[mammamedley]

I have thought about this alot! My little brain is tired! Bill Sweetybum(!) has a very 'hard man' image to keep up. His rules are set. He is making British swimmers tougher and one of the main features has been his insistence that swimmers perform on demand. Our swimmers need to learn how to handle the pressure and rise to the occaisions.
Did Foster qualify in Glassgow??

[BigFish]

I would have been a whole lot happier about this had BS stated categorically, immediately after the NECs that Foster's time would not be considered for selection.

I don't have a problem with leaving him out (it's a shame, but the goals were known beforehand), but I do have a problem with them not being absolutely clear on whether the time would be accepted from the first press release.

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David Cuthbert (www.dartes.co.uk)
news@DaveC.org.uk

[Steve]

I reckon the whole thing would have been far more clear cut if Foster hadn't qualified for any other events. If he wasn't going to Japan for anything else then IMHO he shouldn't have been picked given the criteria stated.

However as he also qualified for the 50 fly and the ASA are paying his air fare anyway it seems daft not to enter him in the 50 free as well, particularly given his world ranking.



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http://www.pullbuoy.co.uk (http://www.pullbuoy.co.uk/)
the UK swimming site

[Steve]

Looks like Bill has just got himself out of a potential controversy: From <a href="http://www.britishswimming.org/news/pressreleases/worldchamps_sweetenham.asp">britishswimming.org</a> - he says

For those now selected for the GB team on that basis, I have decided to offer swimmers the opportunity to compete in other relevant events if they have achieved or equalled 16th fastest time in the FINA Long Course Rankings as at 31st December 2000, two per nation. These must have been achieved in finals at any of the 4 competitions set out in the selection policy for the World Championships.

By my reckoning that gets him in! (BTW I've just checked and he does, but only by virtue of the 2 swimmers per country bit - otherwise this time at the scottish nationals puts him 18th - take out 4 of the 6 Americans above that and hey presto)

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http://www.pullbuoy.co.uk (http://www.pullbuoy.co.uk/)
the UK swimming site

[This message has been edited by Steve Buckley (edited 29 June 2001).]

[lane4]

Yes it looks like Foster gets in after all. Same should go for Karen Pickering in the 200 free. Not sure if there is anyone else who it affects yet?

A big turnaround from Bill this is. Earlier this week Foster wasn't in the 50 free. No way. He hasn't done the time. Period. But now he gets in! I wonder if there was some legal pressure and Bill/ASFGB had no option but to think of some reasonable way of now allowing him to get in otherwise find themselves up a certain creek due to flaws in the wording of the selection policy?