DAVIES LOOKS FORWARD TO WORLDS QUALIFIER
Britain's elite swimmers looking to secure a place on the
national team bound for this summer's World Championships
will go head-to-head in Swansea (17th to 19th June) for the
final chance of realising their dreams.
The Wales National Pool will host the last opportunity for
Britain's swimmers to qualify for the World Championships
to be held in Montreal, Canada in July.
Olympic medallist David Davies (City of Cardiff) will be
in action alongside World Champions James Gibson (Loughborough
University) and Katy Sexton (Portsmouth Northsea).
A group of 10 swimmers achieved the qualifying standard at
the British Championships in March but many more will be looking
to join the team in Swansea following three months of intense
preparation both at home and overseas.
Qualification to the World Championship squad 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.
For Davies, who achieved a qualification time for the 1500m
Freestyle in March, Swansea will provide the first opportunity
to compete on home soil against the best of the rest of British
Swimming's talent since winning his Olympic bronze.
"I'll be looking for some good performances from myself,"
explained Davies, "and to undergo some race practice
ahead of the World Championships.
"I want to be swimming faster than I was at the trials
in March to try to get a better entry time in the 1500m Freestyle.
However, I've been in heavy training and I won't be resting
before the meet.
"It's going to be great swimming in front of a home
crowd, my family and friends. I've been training overseas
for a long time so it will be nice to be back at home competing
in the pool that I train in every day."
Davies' priority rests firmly on the 1500m but he has also
entered the 400m event and will be looking to qualify for
the shorter distance to give himself an additional swim in
Montreal.
The Swansea meet will take place at the Wales National
Pool from 17th to 19th June.
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