Excitement for the 2016 Rio Olympics has stepped up another notch with Olympic places on the line for many VIS swimmers at the 2016 Australian Swimming Championships in Adelaide.
Swimmers can qualify for Rio by finishing first or second in their event final, and swim a “FINA Olympic qualifying time” to ensure selection.
Mack Horton provided an incredible performance for Australian sports fans when he raced to national gold in the 400m freestyle in 3:41.65. Horton swam the second fastest 400m time by any Australian (behind only Ian Thorpe in 2002) to book his place on the plane to Rio.
Finishing in front of Olympic silver medallist Grant Hackett who was attempting his final Olympic tilt, Horton’s time was faster than Hackett had ever swum in his career.
The VIS athlete who turns 20 later this month, said he was happy with his 400m time but expects even more improvement to come in Rio.
“I saw 3:41 but I thought I want to go faster. I’m happy to be on the team but still want to go faster.”
Horton won’t be the only VIS athlete making their swimming debut at Rio, with 21 year old Koti Ngawati booking her place on the team by finishing second in the 200m individual medley.
Koti, who said it was her “dream” to make Rio, received huge support from the stands as she looks to prepare herself for the biggest competition of her life later this year.
Overwhelmed with emotions, Travis Mahoney bravely finished second in his 400m individual medley under the qualifying time, and too cemented his place on the Olympic team.
Dedicating his performance to his late aunt, who passed away after a nine year battle with cancer, Mahoney swam in her memory and was rewarded with a ticket to Rio.
“I thought about how tough she was, her presence was what got me home. She inspired me so much through training and when it was really hard in the pool.”
Josh Beaver also booked his ticket to his first Olympic Games by finishing second in the Men's 200m backstroke in 1:56.19. Fellow VIS swimmer Matson Lawson finished in third place in 1:59.37.
Dual Olympian Belinda Hocking produced one of the swims of the meet in the women’s 200m backstroke, beating a World Champion and two rising young stars to take the Australian title in a new All-Comers record time of 2:06.49 as she eyed off a third Olympic team.
Hocking, who has competed in the 200m backstroke at the last two Olympic Games, will get another chance to go for a medal, with her time qualifying her for Rio. After months of injury and uncanny bad luck, the comeback to form and to the top of the dais is welcome news for the hardworking athlete from Nunawading in Victoria.
“My nerves got better and better as the competition went on but I really felt at peace tonight, coming into this,” said Hocking who had six months out of sport and made significant changes to her training when she got back into the pool.
“Yes, there were nerves but I have a fantastic life that I have built up over the last six months with my support system so I couldn’t be happier.
“I had confidence in knowing that this was my life journey and no matter what the outcome tonight I would be happy with it.
“I needed to take the time out to decide why I was swimming and not do it for anyone else except me.”
Live results can be found here: http://liveresults.swimming.org.au/SAL/2016OPEN/
The Live Stream can be found here: http://www.swimming.org.au/Australian-Champs-LIVE-streaming.aspx
