Van Almsick faces Olympic failure

Swimming

Swimming

Van Almsick faces Olympic failure

The European champion, Franziska van Almsick, yesterday failed to make the German Olympic swimming team in the 400 metres freestyle, leaving herself just one chance to race an individual event in Atlanta. Van Almsick, who picked up two silver and two bronze medals on her spectacular Olympic debut four years ago, could manage only third place in the 400m behind the Olympic champion, Dagmar Hase, and Kerstin Kielgass. Van Almsick's only remaining chance of qualifying for the Olympics is in the 200m freestyle. In Sheffield, Martin Harris won the 50m backstroke in 26.30 sec at the Grand Prix Super Final. Mark Foster, the former world short course 50m freestyle champion and record holder, had too much speed for his rivals in that event.