Olympics: Sad swimmer Haffield fails his 400m test

Olympics: Sad swimmer Haffield fails his 400m test

Aug 10 2008

WALES experienced a bitter-sweet day in the Beijing pool with Thomas Haffield crashing out of his 400m individual medley heat, but Jemma Lowe (below) making the semi-final of the women’s 100m butterfly.

City of Cardiff 20-year-old Haffield, fourth fastest in the world this year, came in a disappointing seventh in an event expected to be dominated by American superstar Michael Phelps.

Haffield, while ranked fourth in the world, always knew a medal was an outside chance and will now use the Beijing experience as a platform for a more realistic challenge at London 2012.

But that did little to ease his frustration as he missed out on a place in the final.

He said before the race that the Olympics would tell him exactly where he stood in the highest company.

Well, after being the first Welsh competitor in action at the Games yesterday, he now knows.

“I will have to go back and talk to my coach and go back to the drawing board,” said Neath-born Haffield.

“I think it was just one of those days.

“Everything was going great up until I got in.

“I got in the water and nothing happened.

“I did the first two strokes and it didn’t feel right.”

But there was better news for Hartlepool-based Lowe, who won a spot in today’s semi-final.

The 18-year-old was the slowest of the 16 qualifiers after finishing fourth in her heat in a time of a time of 58.49 secs, but GB team-mate Francesca Halsall missed out after finishing fifth in the same heat.

Fellow Brit Euan Dale also missed out after finishing sixth in his heat.

Lowe said: “It was the hardest race I have ever done, everyone was so close.

“I was trying to focus on myself and make it to the semis and I did it. I hope I can go quicker tomorrow.”

Meanwhile Phelps’ bid to make Olympic history got off to a predictably smooth start as he set a new Games record in winning his heat in the 400m individual medley.

The 23-year-old American is chasing eight gold medals in Beijing to topple Mark Spitz’s record of seven golds set in 1972.

He breezed into today’s final with a time of four minutes 7.82 seconds.

In the women’s event Britain’s Hannah Miley finished second in her heat to qualify for today’s final.

Australian Grant Hackett, aiming for a third straight Olympic 1500m freestyle title, qualified fifth fastest for the final of the men’s 400m freestyle.

Hackett won his heat, which also featured Britain’s David Carry who, despite setting a new British record, failed to make Sunday’s final after finishing fifth.