Swimming: Cash helps swimmers make a splash

Swimming New Zealand has an extra $4.5 million, but Clive Ruston's stance on standards swimmers must meet to compete at major meets remains unswayed.

Rushton is determined that Sport and Recreation New Zealand's money will not "disappear into a black hole" but will be used, in part, to give New Zealand swimmers greater international exposure.

As national coach, Rushton has always backed a hard, but fair, qualifying standard for swimmers who want to compete at Commonwealth or Olympic Games and World Championships.

At times he has been at odds with other coaches who would prefer some leniency to allow more swimmers that opportunity.

"If you track our swimmers since Sydney, you can see how well they have done," said Rushton. "We now have to make the next target making Olympic finals."

The $4.5 million will be spent in several areas.

"Around $400,000 will go into development at grassroots level," said Swimming New Zealand president John West when the deal was announced at the New Zealand short course championships at Waitakere yesterday.

"Up to $1 million will go to support programmes including sports science. The fact that we can now plan for a number of years is significant.

"Over the years we have had swimmers like Paul Kingsman, Anthony Mosse and Danyon Loader who waved the flag for our sport," said West.

"They were individual athletes who did an incredible job. Now, we are looking to get more of our athletes into that top echelon.

"After Loader we did not have anyone coming through."

Rushton remains positive the sport is heading in the right direction.

"There will be another New Zealand swimmer wearing an Olympic medal. The question is when. There are a significant number of very talented swimmers in the programme.

"Swimmers like Danyon Loader, Ian Thorpe and Michael Phelps don't come around every day," said Rushton.

"If they are there they will appear and we will have them in the programme."

The new programme will be aimed at assisting coaches and swimmers.

"Swimming has adopted a new strategic plan which encompasses the sport's growth and direction," said Sparc chief executive Nick Hill in announcing the minimum $4.5 million investment over four years.

Athens senior coach Jan Cameron welcomed the extra cash.

"We now have the swimmers and the tools to move significantly into the international arena," she said.

"Having the opportunity to compete internationally on a more regular basis will enable us to enhance our international ranking."