With just 61 days to go to Athens 2004, Andrew Bree, arguably Ireland’s top breaststroker, is in real danger of failing to qualify.
The 23-year-old European short course silver medallist needs to find extra speed in his 200m breaststroke to qualify under the stipulated FINA Olympic ‘A’ standard of 2:14.20. The 6’ 6” St Helen’s Bay swimmer claimed fourth at the Janet Evans Invitational Meet in California yesterday but, although a 2004 best, his time of 2:16.54 was way off-target.
Bree, whose personal best from the 2002 Commonwealth Games is 2:14.40, finished over three seconds behind winner Jim Piper of Australia. Having been second at halfway in 1:04.90, the Ulsterman slipped to third with 50m to go.
Since the Olympic Council of Ireland have stated that they will bring just ‘A’ standard swimmers to Athens, only two have so far qualified ahead of the July 21 cut-off point. Michael Williamson clocked 2:14.18 at the British Championships in April in Bree’s 200m breaststroke event, and Bangor’s Emma Robinson beat her 100m breaststroke Irish record (1:09.15) to book their flights.
Filed by Barry J Whyte
