Olympic Selection

[croberts]

I can't understand why some countries insist on their swimmers meeting the A Standard for Olympic Qualification when they could send just one athelete in the event who has met the B Standard. For example, I was reading an article about the South African Olympic Trials which said that in most events swimmers were falling short of the Olympic Standard and would not be going to Athens. They could certainly take a much bigger team if they took atheletes who won the event and made the B Standard. They would only have one athlete in the event but one is better than zero in my opinion as it relates to the Olympics. Maybe its just because as an American, the FINA A and B Standards don't really matter because we're never in jeopardy of having an event where 2 people don't make the A Standard...in fact I would be surprised if only two people made the A Standard at our Trials.

[Dreama]

How about the matter of funding for a huge squad of athletes or athletes going who are going to be way off the pace and perhaps this may have a negative effect on them psychologically even though it would be amazing just being able to compete. Not necessarily factual points but thought provoking anyway.

[Bazza]

Yeah money could be the main reason, although I would have thought competing in an Olympic Games would probably be quite good for the old morale!

France seem to be using a similar policy.

Nathalie Du Toit was a long way off qualifying in the end. She posted a 9:01 and I think the QT was 8:36!

[Curly]

At the French trials Kerianne Payne has just posted 8.36.92 for her 800m free (with Rebecca Cooke on 8.32.61) which is a B Olympic qualifying time. As Rebecca Cooke is currently our only entrant for this event, do you think Bill will take Kerianne? She seems to be the only non Olympic team member anyway which rather begs the question of why she is there if it is not to try for a time. Either way the final should be good tomorrow evening.

Also in France, Sarah Price has just posted 2.12.17 for the 200m back (with Karen Lee on 2.17 and Katie Sexton on 2.18). How frustrating must that be for Sarah as she could only manage 2.13 at the Trials and was beaten by both the other girls. Hope that Karen Lee can go a bit faster in the semis but I don't think that Katie Sexton gets another chance as I think only 2 foreigners are allowed in the semis (although I could be wrong as the rules are rather hard to follow :confused:

[Bazza]

Only two foreigners in each race (ie final and each semi), so four foreigners allowed in total in the semis. This changes for relay events (ie 100 and 200 free) where only two foreigners are allowed in the semis and none in the final.

Some decent swims from the Brits but not as fast as Trials. Kirsty Balfour failed to do the QT in the 200m Breast which would have added weight to her being given a swim in Athens, and in the 200m back, Karen Lee posted 2.14 in the semis but Sarah Price managed only a 2.16 to miss the final. Probably a good job she didn't sneak into the top 2 because she has been very inconsistent since Commies.

[Katie]

I think Bill might take Keri-anne... I don't know how he would justify it, but I think the fact that she's just made the A time AND the fact that she's the only non-olympic qualifyer there suggests he might. Just my opinion though!

[Nevilles polish]

I think Bill might take Keri-anne... I don't know how he would justify it, but I think the fact that she's just made the A time AND the fact that she's the only non-olympic qualifyer there suggests he might. Just my opinion though!

It would seem a little unfair on the swimmers who competed in the trials and only just failed in Olympic selection if Keri-anne was selected having had a second opportunity to qualify.

[swimmer]

I aggree, if she gets in I think Mark Foster should aswell. If she does get in anf foster doesn't, it would certainly show that Bill has his favourites and it would be in my opinion a disgrace to take one and not the other.

[chris_lamb]

I think Bill might take Keri-anne... I don't know how he would justify it, but I think the fact that she's just made the A time AND the fact that she's the only non-olympic qualifyer there suggests he might. Just my opinion though!

But that would make a mockery of the qualfying standards. If you relax the standards for one then you have to do the same for everyone else.

[Katie]

I completely agree, it would be unfair. However, I really wouldn't be surprised if Foster ends up going as well, and although I have no clue whether it will happen or not, I just think that the fact Keri has been taken to france as the only non-olympic team member is interesting.