Kate Haywood focusing on 2012 London Olympics instead of 2011 Shanghai World Championships
Kate Haywood, 2010 European Championship’s 50 m breast stroke silver medalist, has expressed her intentions of focusing on the 2012 London Olympics, after losing her heat at the 2011 British Gas Swimming Championships. She went on to further say that she
won’t be trying to qualify for the 2011 World Championships in June.
Haywood lost the 100 m breast stroke to Bath University’s Stacy Tadd on the third day of the British Championship with a difference of one second. Tadd touched the wall in a time of 1:09.36 against Haywood’s 1:10.36. With the defeat in her main event, Haywood
could not qualify for a spot in Britain’s Swimming Team to participate at the World Championships. However, Haywood still has a last shot for her World Championship Qualification in June at the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) National Championships.
Haywood has announced that she has no desire to compete in the second trials to book a spot in Britain’s team. Instead she has expressed the notion that her entire focus is now on the 2012 London Olympics. Haywood, who after her inferior performance in the
past years, went to Australia to train with the Olympic gold medalist, Leisel Jones.
Haywood won a gold medal in the 4*100 m medley relay in the 2010 European Championships and a bronze medal in 50 m and 100 m breast stroke at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.
She told media reporters that right now she has no plans of returning back to UK to attempt for the second trials qualification. She justified her decision by saying "I left to go to Australia to prepare for the 2012 Olympics. Next year's the important one,
not this year.”
"If it means not swimming at the world championships then I'm willing to miss it so next year can be right," Haywood added.
However, both Tadd and Haywood finished in a time outside the World Championship time qualification standard. Haywood commented that she finished ahead of Tadd in the semi finals and she will be putting all her efforts to qualify for the 2012 Olympic trials.
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