WORLD TRIALS TO SHAPE FUTURE OF SWIMMING
The framework of British Swimming's World Championship squad
will be determined over the next five days when the sport's
elite compete for the right to represent their nation in Montreal
this summer.
The first major international meet since the Athens Games
will provide an outline for the future of British Swimming
in the run up to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and in Manchester
this week swimmers will be out to show their credentials for
inclusion.
Names for the future from a next generation of athletes are
guaranteed to emerge as they challenge the established ranks
for one of two spots per event as well as to fill vacancies
left by retiring swimmers.
National Performance Director Bill Sweetenham views the Trials
as part of a British Swimming transition ahead of a very exciting
period for the sport.
"There's an unbelievable opportunity for Britain over
the next 18 months starting with the Trials this week,"
said Sweetenham.
"We have the World Championships this summer, the Commonwealth
Games Trials soon after, the World Student Games in Turkey
in August, the European Short Course Championships in December
and the Commonwealth Games in Australia next March.
"I think we'll see a group of young girls coming through
at these championships as a new generation begins to shine.
"Unfortunately we're going to loose some of our senior
athletes this year as we have an ageing squad. I'm certain
there will be retirements but we're in a position now where
we have an exciting group of youngsters maturing all of the
time.
"There are new faces on the horizon but it's going to
take 12 months to fill the shoes of those that have left or
those that will leave the sport."
The British Swimming World Championship Trials, at the Manchester
Aquatic Centre, run from Wednesday 16th to Sunday 20th March
and will provide the first of two opportunities for athletes
to secure a spot on the squad bound for the Montreal event
(17th to 31st July).
"I'm hopeful of good results in Manchester and there
will also be a Stage Three meet where those who miss out on
qualification in Manchester have a second opportunity,"
said Sweetenham.
This week's event also provides an opportunity for Britain's
younger swimmers to qualify for the European Junior Championships
in Budapest, Hungary between 14th and 17th July and the European
Youth Olympic Festival in Lignano, Italy between 2nd and 9th
July.
Britain's swimmers will face three stage meets to ascertain
their progress between the trials and the World Championships,
Stage one takes place between 6th and 8th May, stage two
from 27th to 29th May and stage three from 17th to 19th June.
Qualification is based on a swimmer posting a time for their
event equal to or better than a top 10 in the world ranking
in the Olympic events while non-Olympic events will need a
top six world-ranked swim.
Swimmers will also attend a series of gruelling training
camps designed to develop themselves as well as the coaches
who will guide them in Montreal and beyond.
Sweetenham explained: "We have a group of women that
will be taking part in the Chinese Nationals this year, a
group of men who will be training in Australia and we'll also
be taking every opportunity to train in and around Asia as
we had towards Beijing.
"We're going to expose our athletes to outdoor, long
course training environments as this is very important for
the future of British Swimming."
"Our focus will also be on developing our coaches at
the highest level and we'll be working alongside some of the
world's biggest names to help achieve this.
Notable absences at the Trials include Georgina Lee (Camphill
Edwardians), who is struggling with a back injury, and those
swimmers based in America - Jo Fargus (University of Bath),
Matt Kidd (Leatherhead), Gavin Meadows (City of Leeds) and
Simon Burnett (Wycombe District) - who will look to qualify
at their collegiate swimming championships later this month.
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