British Swimming Head Coach Dennis Pursley has lashed out at the prospect that the Women’s 800m Freestyle event could be dropped from the Olympic programme as early as 2012.

The event that catapulted Rebecca Adlington to Olympic glory is rumoured to be facing the axe, by request of the Coaching Commission of FINA, in favour of the Women’s 1,500m Freestyle. The move would aim to unify the men’s and women’s Olympic Swimming Programme for the first time in history.

Pursley, former Head of USA Swimming for 14 years, is appalled at the prospect of the Women’s 800m Freestyle being removed prior to a home Games in the middle of an Olympic cycle.

“While, in principle, we support the idea of introducing a 1,500m Freestyle event for women - allowing the Olympic programme to mirror that of the men’s – I am strongly opposed to the suggestion that this could be introduced for London 2012 while our athletes are in the middle of their Olympic training cycle,” said Pursley.

“Athletes and coaches use the entire four-year cycle to prepare for an Olympic Games and to change this now would be unfair.

“We are comfortable for the Women’s 1,500m to be introduced at the 2016 Olympic Games but to introduce it for 2012 would undermine all of the work put in by the athletes and coaches who have been working toward competing in the 800m in London.”

FINA’s ruling executive will make a decision in January as to whether or not they will recommend the move to the IOC.

At the FINA World Swimming Championships men and women are able to compete in both the 800m and 1,500m Freestyle events; however the IOC is opposed to adding more events to the swimming schedule.

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For further details contact Lauren Sanderson, British Swimming Media Assistant, on 01509 632236 or email lauren.sanderson@swimming.org.

About British Swimming
British Swimming is the National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Synchronised Swimming, Water Polo and Open Water in Great Britain.  It is responsible internationally for the high performance representation of the sport. The members of British Swimming are the three Home Countries national governing bodies of England (ASA), Scotland (Scottish ASA) and Wales. (Welsh ASA)  British Swimming seeks to enable its athletes to achieve gold medal success at the Olympics, Paralympics, World Championships and Commonwealth Games.

About British Gas
British Gas is Britain's favourite domestic energy supplier. As well as providing gas and electricity, it also installs and maintains central heating and gas appliances in millions of homes throughout the country. British Gas is very proud to be the principal partner of British Swimming and home countries: The ASA, Scottish Swimming and Swim Wales. British Gas is supporting the team's quest for medals on the world and Olympic stage - and giving as many people as possible the opportunity to learn to swim and use swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle. British Gas wants to ensure local pools remain at the heart of our communities. By using its expertise, it can help them reduce costs by being more energy efficient and safeguard the facilities for this and future generations. For more information visit www.britishgas.co.uk/swimming

About Speedo®
The world’s leading swimwear brand, Speedo® is passionate about life in and around the water, creating revolutionary new technologies, designs and innovations. Supporting swimming from grass-roots through to elite level, including the phenomenal Michael Phelps, Speedo® is owned by Speedo Holdings B.V and distributed in over 170 countries around the world; SPEEDO, the ARROW device, FASTSKIN, LZR PULSE, SPEEDO ENDURANCE, FLIPTURNS, FASTSKINFSII, SPEEDO BIOFUSE, SWYM and LZR RACER are registered trademarks of Speedo Holdings B.V. The LZR RACER suit has worldwide design rights and patents pending.

Lizzie Simmonds secured a bronze for the British Gas Swimming Team at the Berlin leg of the FINA World Cup as she took her place in the world’s fastest final.

 

The British Gas ITC Loughborough swimmer, who set a new European Record in Stockholm this week, touched in third in 2:02.12 with silver going to Japan’s Aya Terakawa in 2:01.67 and gold in a new World Record time of 2:00.18 going to Japan’s Shiho Sakai.

 

Fran Halsall, who won gold in Stockholm in the 100m Freestyle, continued her strong form in Berlin as she lowered the British record in the final of the 50m Freestyle. She touched in 23.94 on her way to sixth place in the final.

 

-ends-

 

The British Gas Swimming Team selected to compete in the FINA World Cup in Berlin, Germany (14th-15th November) comprises:

 

Ross Davenport  - British Gas ITC Loughborough

Kris Gilchrist – City of Edinburgh

Ian Hulme – City of Sunderland

Andrew Hunter – British Gas ITC Stirling

Michael Rock – British Gas ITC Stockport

Jak Scott – British Gas ITC Stirling

Daniel Sliwinski – Gallica

Charles Turner – Ealing

Grant Turner - British Gas ITC Loughborough

Laura Allison – Thornaby

Eloise Barber – British Gas ITC Stirling

Lucy Ellis – British Gas ITC Stirling

Francesca Halsall - British Gas ITC Loughborough

Elizabeth Simmonds - British Gas ITC Loughborough

Amy Smith – Loughborough University

Jessica Thielmann – City of Newcastle

 

For further details contact Dave Richards, British Swimming Media Manager, on 01509 632237, 0778 992 6136 or email dave.richards@swimming.org

 

About British Swimming

British Swimming is the National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Synchronised Swimming, Water Polo and Open Water in Great Britain.  It is responsible internationally for the high performance representation of the sport. The members of British Swimming are the three Home Countries national governing bodies of England (ASA), Scotland (Scottish ASA) and Wales. (Welsh ASA)  British Swimming seeks to enable its athletes to achieve gold medal success at the Olympics, Paralympics, World Championships and Commonwealth Games. 

 

About British Gas

British Gas is Britain's favourite domestic energy supplier. As well as providing gas and electricity, it also installs and maintains central heating and gas appliances in millions of homes throughout the country. British Gas is very proud to be the principal partner of British Swimming and home countries: The ASA, Scottish Swimming and Swim Wales. British Gas is supporting the team's quest for medals on the world and Olympic stage - and giving as many people as possible the opportunity to learn to swim and use swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle. British Gas wants to ensure local pools remain at the heart of our communities. By using its expertise, it can help them reduce costs by being more energy efficient and safeguard the facilities for this and future generations. For more information visit www.britishgas.co.uk/swimming

 

About Speedo®
The world’s leading swimwear brand, Speedo® is passionate about life in and around the water, creating revolutionary new technologies, designs and innovations. Supporting swimming from grass-roots through to elite level, including the phenomenal Michael Phelps, Speedo® is owned by Speedo Holdings B.V and distributed in over 170 countries around the world; SPEEDO, the ARROW device, FASTSKIN, LZR PULSE, SPEEDO ENDURANCE, FLIPTURNS, FASTSKINFSII, SPEEDO BIOFUSE, SWYM and LZR RACER are registered trademarks of Speedo Holdings B.V. The LZR RACER suit has worldwide design rights and patents pending.

 

About Kellogg's

The Kellogg Company was founded in 1906 and today produces 40 different cereals including popular brands such as Special K, Cornflakes and Coco Pops, and 56 different snacks including brands such as Nutri-Grain and Special K snacks. Kellogg's has been a partner of the ASA and British Swimming for 13 years, sponsoring the Kellogg's ASA Awards and enabling over 50,000 people to take up swimming as part of an active lifestyle.