OLYMPIC SWIMMERS FACE EUROPEAN CHALLENGE
British swimmers destined for the 2008 Beijing Games have
been selected to race at the first major international meet
of the Olympic year when they compete in Eindhoven for European
titles.
Kirsty Balfour (City of Edinburgh), David Davies (City of
Cardiff) and Liam Tancock (Loughborough University) will form
the nucleus of British Swimming's 27-strong squad bound for
the European Championships in March after gaining pre-selection.
Medals at the World Championships in Melbourne this year
saw the three Olympic hopefuls pre-selected and with it an
opportunity to race early in the season against many of those
they'll expect to face in Beijing.
For double 2007 World Championship medallist Liam Tancock,
the European Championships, just a few days out from the British
Swimming Olympic Trials in Sheffield, offers the chance to
compete before focusing on his Olympic effort.
"It's another stepping stone for me and team towards
the Olympics," said Tancock. "The Championships
provide another level of preparation centred around racing
world class swimmers in an international environment.
"I'll be looking to swim fast just before the Olympic
trials and it will give me a sense of where I am so I can
fine tune for the Trials.
"It will be a busy schedule as I'll travel to Eindhoven,
race my events and then come straight back to focus on the
Trials."
The team will be lead by British Swimming Head Coach Ian
Turner who will also use the European Championships to continue
the development of Britain's relay teams.
"Not only are we asking the pre-selected Olympic swimmers
to take part in the European Championships we're also utilising
the opportunity to race our relay teams as part of their progression
towards Beijing and beyond," said Turner.
"The event is just days out from our own Olympic Trials,
and that is the main concern for Britain's swimmers looking
to make the Beijing team, but the team we've selected for
Eindhoven will have the opportunity to race, analyse their
performance and make sure they're at their best in Sheffield."
The LEN European Swimming Championships take place in Eindhoven,
Holland from 18 to 24 March 2008.
The British squad comprises:
Ryan Bennett (Bolton Metro)
Adam Brown (Hatfield SC/Offshore Centre)
David Carry (Aberdeen Dolphins)
Matthew Clay (Swansea Performance)
Euan Dale (Loughborough University)
Ross Davenport (Loughborough University)
David Davies (City of Cardiff)
Chris Fox (Wolverhampton SC/Offshore Centre)
Ben Hockin (Swansea Performance)
Andrew Hunter (Stirling Swimming)
Kris Gilchrist (City of Edinburgh)
Michael Rock (Stockport Metro)
Liam Tancock (Loughborough University)
Grant Turner (University of Bath/Offshore Centre)
Hannah Askew (Maxwell)
Kirsty Balfour (City of Edinburgh)
Lauren Collins (City of Birmingham)
Ellen Gandy (Beckenham)
Fransesca Halsall (City of Liverpool)
Kate Haywood (Loughborough University)
Joanne Jackson (Loughborough University)
Jemma Lowe (Stockton SC)
Melanie Marshall (Loughborough University)
Caitlin McClatchey (Loughborough University)
Elizabeth Simmonds (Lincoln Vulcans)
Jenna Turner (Ealing )
Rebecca Turner (City of Sheffield)
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