Four men book their spots at Olympics

Published Apr 11, 2016

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Durban - Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Sebastien Rousseau and Michael Meyer started the SA Swimming and Olympic trials in emphatic fashion by earning their tickets to the Rio Games in the men’s 400m Individual Medley yesterday.

Later in the evening Myles Brown also added his name to the list winning the men’s 400m freestyle with a time of 3:48.86 to book his place for his maiden Olympics.

During the morning session Olympic gold medallist Cameron van der Burgh posted a qualifying time of 59.98 seconds during the 100m breaststroke heats which bringing the total of Olympic qualifiers to four.

It was a dream come true for Meyer after he missed out on selection for London 2012, while Rousseau will be participating in his third Olympic Games.

The duo were involved in a close tussle with Rousseau touching the wall first in the end with a time of four minutes, 14.75 seconds with Meyer clocking 4:15.71 as both dipped below the qualifying time of 4:16.46.

Rousseau lead through the butterfly before Meyer established a slight lead over the backstroke and breaststroke.

At the turn for the freestyle leg, Rousseau surged to wrest the lead back to hold on for the victory as both swimmers earned Olympic berths - Meyer posting a new personal best time.

Four years ago Meyer was left disappointed after he met the qualifying standard with a time of 4:16.42 but missed out on selection as only two swimmers per event per country can earn a spot for the Games - Rousseau and double Olympic gold medallist Chad le Clos clocking faster times than Meyer to earn selection for London.

“This is just huge, I haven’t swum my times from 2012 over the last four years, so to do a new PB and qualify for the Olympics is just unreal,” an emotional Meyer said.

“This is my big event I knew I had to do it at the beginning of the meet, so it just feels unreal, I’ve been reliving this moment in my head and what would happen if I did (qualify).

“Just missing out on the Olympics in 2012 I knew I had to do it now.”

Rousseau, who made his Olympic debut as a 17-year-old in Beijing 2008, said he was excited about the prospect of going to his third.

“My coach always teaches me if you can make it into a final, and you’ve got a lane, you’ve got a shot so it is my goal to make a final,” Rousseau said.

“I will let my heart take over, and fight for that spot on the podium, that is why we go to the Olympics to get a medal.”

Brown and his Egyptian training partner Marwan El Kamash went toe-to-toe in the 400m final with the South African taking the lead in the final lap for the victory.

The 23-year-old was delighted to finally earn his place to the Olympics after he narrowly missed out in 2012 by two seconds.

“The fact that it is Olympic trials puts pressure on everything, so the main priority for these champs was just to qualify and swimming faster later,” Brown said.

The Star

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