AOC declares Nick D’Arcy eligible to compete at Australian trials for the 2012 Olympic Games
The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has officially declared controversial swimmer Nick D’Arcy eligible to compete at the Australian Selection Trials for the 2012 London Olympic Games.
After being trapped in a series of controversies, D’Arcy was finally granted permission to prove his mettle at the upcoming Australian trials for the London Games.
The decision was announced by AOC on Tuesday after they received confirmation from Swimming Australian that they wish to keep D’Arcy in their shadow squad for the 2012 London Olympics.
While publicising their statement, AOC said they had “decided to be guided by SAL's (Swimming Australia Limited's) response on this matter.... Accordingly, he is eligible for selection to the Australian Olympic Team should he qualify and be nominated by SAL. Should Nick D'Arcy be selected, he will be subject to the ongoing obligations of an Olympic Team member as encapsulated in the Team Agreement.”
The 24-year-old D’Arcy, who attacked former Australian swimmer, Simon Cowley at a nightclub and as a consequent was expelled from the national team to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, has participated in just one international event. Despite of being a dominant butterfly swimmer in his country, D’Arcy’s inappropriate behaviour halted his participations at all elite levels.
He represented his country at the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships, where he obtained a silver medal in the 200m butterfly. Subsequently, the Australian butterfly expert suffered a back injury and stayed almost six months away from the competition.
He just recovered from his injuries and made his first appearance at the 2012 New South Wales (NSW) State Open Championships, where he occupied a gold medal in the 200m butterfly. He also finished third in the 100m butterfly at the same meet.
D’Arcy’s remarkable form at the NSW meet projected his qualification in the Australian team to London Games, but the Australian once again faced a hindrance in his Olympic dream as AOC demanded Swimming Australia’s suggestions on the issue.
Nevertheless, after a prolonged era of tension, D’Arcy has been cleared from all controversies and is allowed to race at the next month’s trials in Adelaide, which are starting from March 15.
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