DAVIES FACES REPEAT OF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DUEL
Britain's swimmers face their toughest international test
so far of the 2008 Olympic year when they compete at the LEN
European Championships in Eindhoven.
David Davies (City of Cardiff), Kirsty Balfour (City of Edinburgh)
and Liam Tancock (Loughborough University) go in the 1500m
Freestyle, 200m Breaststroke and 100m Backstroke respectively,
and will be joined by Britain's six relay teams.
The three individual swimmers have already qualified for
the Beijing Olympics and will use the Europeans as an indicator
of their preparations towards the Games.
Davies will find himself in possibly the most challenging
event on the European programme as last year's World Championships
medallists face each other yet again.
"It's a great opportunity for me to race against a very
strong field containing the world champion in Sawrymowicz
from Poland and silver medallist Prilukov of Russia,"
said Davies who took bronze behind the pair 12 months ago.
"To be able to swim against opposition like that at
this stage of the Olympic season is invaluable. I can measure
where I am and what we'll need to focus on as we move towards
Beijing.
"My preparations have gone well but it's a busy few
weeks ahead with the Europeans, the British Championships
where I'll be swimming the 400m Freestyle and then the 10km
at the World Open Water Championships in Seville."
For coach Ben Titley, part of the British Swimming Leadership
Group, it will provide valuable feedback into the readiness
of swimmers heading to the Olympics in August.
"This meet provides a good opportunity for the athletes
to gauge where they are in terms of their preparations for
the Olympic trials or for the Games themselves," said
Titley.
"David, Liam and Kirsty will all be looking for something
very different from the Europeans but each faces a tough challenge
with a strong field expected.
"Liam and Kirsty have targeted the British Championships
later this month as their main event of this part of the season
because there are other events they'll be aiming to qualify
for the Olympics in while David will be looking to the World
Open Water Championships in Seville."
Tancock and Balfour will be able to see how close they are
to some of Europe's top swimmers without resting for the event
and this will provide early indications of what they'll be
capable of when fully race prepared.
The relay teams will look to forge a familiarity that will
stand up well to scrutiny at the Beijing Games and Eindhoven
offers the chance for this to be developed further.
"For the relays it's a great opportunity to gain valuable
experience in the international arena. It will help to promote
that team understanding and to have a hit out just before
the British event in Sheffield is a real benefit," explained
Titley.
"Some countries are using the event as their Olympic
selection process so it's bound to be a fast meet while there
will be other nations such as ourselves that in the main will
be training throughout the championships in readiness for
the Olympics."
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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