Three WA Swimmers Selected for 2008 Australian Olympic Team
The quartet were named in the 42 athlete strong Swimming Section of the Olympic Team following theconclusion of the Telstra Australian Swimming Championships at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre on Saturday night. For Sullivan and Nederpelt it will be their second Olympic appearance, with both having competed in Athens four years ago, while Foster will makeher Olympic debut in Beijing.
22-year old Sullivan qualified after winning both the 100m and 50m freestyle events, reclaiming the 50m world record in the process. 22-year old Nederpelt claimed a title in the 400 individual medley and finished second in the 200m butterfly to book two individual swims in Beijing.
Foster, who is also 22, secured her ticket to Beijing with a second placing behind Liesel Jones in the 200m breaststroke.
Allthree athletes are current or former Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS)scholarship holders, with Sullivan to prepare for Beijing under the guidance of WAIS swimming coach Grant Stoelwinder at Challenge Stadium. Nederpelt is currently based in Melbourne, working alongside Grant Hackett under coach Ian Pope, while Foster is based at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) with AIS swimming coach Shannon Rollason.