Swimmers working hard to reach peak form

The time trials at the National Pool last week gave an indication that the ASA swimmers are maintaining their upward graph in their bid to produce their best in the competitions ahead.

The squad making the trip to Monaco at the start of next month to participate in the GSSE will be announced shortly. They will then continue with their intensive programme of preparation leading up to the Games.

Other swimmers will taper for the National Championships in July and for the FISEC Games which follow. Which means that the horizon is beckoning for our performers in the pool.

"The coming days will present the swimmers with their last chance to obtain the MQS for Monaco," national team coach Andy Colbourn said after the latest time trials.

"In this meeting there were several personal bests and other performances which were close to national records. This shows that the swimmers are working hard to achieve their ambition of representing their country in the forthcoming GSSE."

Colbourn is aware that the boys and girls in his squad are bent on keeping up the good work they have been doing in the past months.

Last Tuesday, there were some good times recorded, with several swimmers reaching new personal heights. Mark Sammut and Daniel Galea improved their limits in the 200 back (2:31.66) and 100 breast (1:20.09) respectively, while Paul Herrera bettered his own time in the 100m breast when covering the distance in 1:11.77.

Another satisfactory performance came from Neil Agius. Although he had no opposition to swim against, he was just outside his own 800 metres freestyle national record of 8:53.14, when clocking 8:54.25.

Colbourn spoke about the upcoming weeks prior to the main events of the season.

"The swimmers will now gear themselves up for the final phase of intensive preparation. It is hoped that some will compete in an international open meet before the big tests arrive," he said.

"We plan to take the swimmers to Messina this month, with others carrying on this final cycle of the season to peak for the July Nationals and the FISEC Games."

Without any doubt, the swimmers will have to absorb the pressure of having to perform exceptionally well to obtain the MQS within the short span of time that is left before the GSSE.

Their work ethic in a sport which they practise with dedication and no little sacrifice, unfortunately, may not be enough to convince the Maltese Olympic Committee that nothing short of a distinct possibility of winning a medal will justify any athlete's selection.

The MQS, based on the result obtained by the third-placed swimmer in the previous Games, this time was made to apply also to the 2003 Games rather than only to the last edition in Andorra two years later. This was because in some events there was an unexpected dip in standards in 2005.

The Maltese contingent will be announced shortly. Some have already obtained the MQS in sport disciplines where results can be quantified.

The swimmers, among other athletes, are in this category. But they are not hoping for any undeserved or indulgent call-ups. However, and given the difficult circumstances under which they have had to prepare themselves over the last years, some sort of consideration when picking up the team will not go amiss.

On one hand they may fall short of the standards they are expected to achieve, and on the other, their track record in the pool is one of proven resilience, dedication and improved performances over recent months. While the swimmers are working to a peak it is up to the decision-makers to untie the selection knot.