Bree fails to shine in Rome
Thursday, 30 July 2009 14:53Ireland's Andrew Bree was someway short of his best as the Irish Olympian failed to advance to the semi-finals in his specialist 200 metre breaststroke, writes RTÉ Sports John Kenny at the World Swimming Championships in Rome.
Bree finished third in his heat after his body suit burst before the race as he clocked a time of 2:12.90 to finish 30th overall.
The 28-year-old's time was almost three seconds slower than the time that earned him a semi-final place at the Beijing Olympics last year.
Speaking afterwards, Bree said: 'That wasn't my best performance out there. It just didn't feel right from the start and felt a little too choppy. I'm going to go back now and analyse the race with my coaches and see what I need to do to get back down to my best again.
'We've a team of 13 swimmers who've all been swimming really well so far. I'm going to get back out there and get behind the other swimmers who have more races to come here in Rome.'
Another new Irish record was set by Bangor's Clare Dawson in the 100m freestyle in 56.32 seconds, while the Irish quartet of Dawson Melanie Nocher Niamh O'Sullivan and Niamh Murphy wiped over nine seconds of the Irish 4 x200 freestyle realy which placed them 15th overall.
