BARBADOS AMATEUR SWIMMING ASSOCIATION

PRESS RELEASE

CROSS MAKES BEIJING OLYMPICS QUALIFYING ROUND

CONGRATULATIONS are in order for ANDREI CROSS after a great record-breaking-2007, CROSS, the Barbados and Alpha Sharks swimmer climaxed his achievements with an Olympic Qualifying Time of 1:03.64 at the Mirobor International meet in Slovenia last weekend. Determined to qualify in 2007 in order to focus on training hard in 2008 for Beijing his DQ in the 100 breast at the Dutch Open earlier this month forced  him to fly to Slovenia to compete in the final FINA approved meet of the year. With a new 50 M record of 28.48 in Holland bellow his belt the breaking of the Olympic Qualifying time of 1:03.72 was always on the cards. But flying out to the cold of central Europe to compete in December is no simple task.  But his competitive instincts and experience gained at big international meets proved invaluable and his 1:03. 64 made the mark. He has been rewarded with a trip home to Barbados for some sun and training before returning to his training base at the University of  Bath in England under the expert guidance of coach Kim Swanick former  New Zealand head coach who has produced a former world record holder in the 50 Breast for women Zoe Baker. Cross joins Bradley who qualified with an Olympic ‘A’ time at the PanAmerican Games in Rio, Brazil this year. Nicky Neckles retirement from swimming after the Games reduces Barbados’ complement for representation at the Beijing Olympics. 3 other swimmers are currently in training vying for their qualifying time and swimmers have up to July 15, 2008 to make the qualifying round.

Barbados is fortunate that it has been given two FINA Olympic Qualifying events in the Long Course Nationals in February and the Aquatic Centre International in May. This says  much for the  recognized quality of the meet officials in BASA headed by the FINA  Technical official Sonia O'Neal, President of BASA. With appropriate promotion these meets could attract swimmers from across the globe who must qualify at a FINA approved meet to make it to Beijing.