Swimming: Olympic team may be our largest

Wellington backstroker Gareth Kean, in two Olympic disciplines, is one of the spearheads of New Zealand's Games campaign. Photo / Dean Purcell

With the help of Fina and a couple of strong open water performances in June, New Zealand could be fielding their largest swimming squad to be sent to an Olympic Games in London this year.

An initial team of 12 was named last night at the conclusion of the national championships at West Wave Aquatic Centre in Waitakere.

Three relay teams - the men's 4 x 200m freestyle and 4 x 100m medley, and the women's 4 x 100m freestyle - will have their fingers firmly crossed until June, when the world governing body, Fina, will be extending invitations to round out the fields in those disciplines.

Throw in open water contenders aiming for selection in Portugal in June and the eventual squad could pip the previous biggest of 15 at Beijing in 2008.

By comparison, there were 13 in Athens in 2004, and 14 in Atlanta 16 years ago, when Danyon Loader won his memorable double gold.

Eight swimmers have made the standards in individual events, the last being North Shore sprinter Hayley Palmer, who squeezed in by equalling the requirement of 25.27 seconds to win the 50m freestyle.

There are eight performances ranked in the world top 10 this year.

Those individuals doubling up include Lauren Boyle, who will line up in three freestyle events - 200m, 400m and 800m - breaststroker Glenn Snyders in the 100m and 200m, Commonwealth Games silver medallist Gareth Kean in the 100m and 200m backstroke.

And there's exciting newcomer Matthew Stanley, the 20-year-old Matamata freestyler, who lowered the boom on Loader's longstanding 200m and 400m national freestyle records - both set in Atlanta - to get the trip.

"That is a testament to the hard work and dedication from our swimmers and the expertise from our coaches and support staff around the country," Swimming New Zealand boss Ross Butler said last night.

"The team not only has our proven performers but also some exciting young swimmers who will lead the drive for the future."

There have been some awkward times for the national body in the last few months out of the pool.

But there was cause for celebration last night at the number heading for London.

The men's medley relay team of Kean, Snyders, Daniel Bell and Carl O'Donnell clocked 3min 35.09s, a time which would have placed them sixth at last year's world champs.

"I was in the team that got fifth at Beijing and I think we can do amazing things again in London, given the chance," Snyders said.

There was a touch of emotion to Palmer's success.

She had been laid low by glandular fever and hospitalised during the world championships in Shanghai last year.

She'd worked hard but was not expecting much this week.

"This is pretty cool," Palmer said.

"All I wanted to do at this meet was to come out and really swim fast.

"To qualify for the Olympics is an absolute bonus. That was possibly the best feeling that I have ever had."

Melissa Ingram had already bettered her qualifying mark in the 200m backstroke last year, but her 2:10.56 was 0.3s under the required mark.

"It's really hard waiting to the final night.

"I've had to watch my friends qualify and in some cases go close but miss out and it rips you apart a bit," Ingram said.

"That was not the prettiest of swims but I dug in there and fought well."

The last of Loader's national records, the 1500m, also disappeared last night.

Open water hope Kane Radford trimmed it by 23/100ths of a second, clocking 15:27.13.