articles

Dunn after medal relay spot

By Jacquelin Magnay, Sydney Morning Herald, 12 July 1996

Atlanta: Medley swimmer Matthew Dunn will complete a 200m freestyle time trial on the eve of the Atlanta Olympics to force a berth in the hot medal prospect 4x200m relay team.

Seven swimmers are vying for the four spots in the final, with up to another two positions available in the morning heats.

But Dunn, the Commonwealth Games champion and a key member of the relay team in recent years - which won the Commonwealth Games event and scored a significant and morale-boosting triumph over the strong American team at last year's Pan Pacific championships - is now battling to hold his position.

He will have to prove he is as speedy as the other contenders - Michael Klim, ranked No1 in the world in the 200m freestyle, Daniel Kowalski, 1,500m world champion Kieren Perkins, Glen Housman, Malcolm Allen and Ian Van der Wal, before head coach Don Talbot will consider using him in the relay final.

All six swimmers used in the relay swim, including heat swimmers, will be awarded a medal if the team finishes in the top three.

Talbot will be able to gauge the speed of the others in the morning heat, but Dunn's 400m medley event is on the same day.