PAUL PALMER

© ALLSPORT

WEEK 2
Date: August 7

A British team made of the right stuff

The dye is cast and the tickets booked. Following the British Olympic Swimming Trials, 41 hard-working swimmers have cemented their place at the Sydney Olympics. For those that missed out, bad luck – make the next four years of waiting worth it.

The 41 who did get through make this the largest Olympic swimming team that Britain has ever selected, a fact that may cause some to raise a sceptical eye at the qualifying standards that were set in place. There is no cause for alarm; the qualifying times were tough and the plethora of British records that were set simply proves that this is a team of emerging strength.

The swimmers were not satisfied to simply make the team, but instead saw the trials as a hurdle that needed to be cleared in order for them to move towards the finishing line and that elusive place on the Olympic rostrum.

Of course, it is not quite as rosy as that....

The recent trials were an immense success - nobody doubts that - but this could create a problem. Over the last four years the standard of British swimming has risen by such a degree that there is no longer an easy event in which to qualify. Even the relays have become potential medal prospects and this has meant that no athlete could be blasé about the trials, hence the multitude of top-ten world ranked swims.

With the domestic standard becoming so high, those that have actually made the team will now be on cloud nine – certainly the ones I train with are - and this could affect final preparation.

With such a short time between trials and the Games themselves it will be quite hard for people to pick themselves up and refocus on the job in hand. No matter how professional you are, there is always a slight lull that follows the euphoria of gaining Olympic selection and this has to be kept to a minimum in order that the last, and most important, cycle of work can be effectively put to use.

So, we have a team that is not lacking in the guts and determination department – always good for positive results – and along with that there is a healthy mix of youth and experience, which is so important for a competition such as this.

It is said that it takes an Olympics to learn an Olympics so it will be necessary for the older athletes to make sure that the more inexperienced ones do not become overawed by the magnitude of the Games themselves – nothing can prepare the novice for life in the village. Conversely, it will be the job of those with youth on their side to add, almost subconsciously, to the excitement of the carnival, which will, in turn, raise the level of performance.

And the result of all this?

Well, all in all, the team seems to be made of the right stuff.

Having been in two previous Olympic teams I have witnessed the transformation of our swimmers from a "make-up-the-numbers, have a good time" motley crew of amateur athletes into a dedicated and professional outfit that focuses solely on the job in hand.

This is surely a sign that Britain has woken up to the modern era of professional sport and the results will hopefully follow over the next few years.

Read Paul's diary for WEEK 1 ...

Read Paul's diary for WEEK 3 ...

Read Paul's diary for WEEK 4 ...

Read Paul's diary for WEEK 5 ...