Trio part of British team for Beijing

Apr 7 2008 The Journal

THREE North East swimmers were named in a 35-strong British team for the Beijing Olympics yesterday.

City of Newcastle’s Chris Cook was selected for the men’s 200m breaststroke, Borough of Stockton’s Jemma Lowe for the women’s 100 and 200m butterfly and medley relay and Derwentside’s Jo Jackson for the 400m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle relay.

There was no place for Lowe’s Stockton team-mate Jess Dickons. The former European junior champion made the qualifying time in the 200m butterfly but was unable to finish in the first two.

Cook, 29, who reached the 200m breaststroke semi-final on his Olympic debut four years ago, said: “Athens was a massive disappointment for me personally. When I got on the team, I felt like a rabbit caught in the headlights. It was a big team full of big characters. I wasn’t a young guy but I was inexperienced. They say it takes a Games to get into a Games. I have that experience now.”

Lowe, who smashed her British 200m butterfly record on her 18th birthday on Monday, said: “I am excited and relieved that all my hard work has paid off. But there is still much hard work to come.”

Jackson, 21, added the 4x200m relay to her programme when she finished third behind the current and former British record-holders, Becky Adlington and Caitlin McClatchey, in yesterday’s individual 200m freestyle final. Her time of 1:58.77 almost matched the personal best she set in the heats on Saturday.

Jackson said: “I’m so pleased to be part of the relay. It’s a strong team which should be challenging for a medal. I was disappointed not to qualify for the 800m freestyle but I have the 400m freestyle and relay which I think are my better distances.”

Wear Valley’s former European junior medallist Chris Alderton missed selection after his third in the men’s 1500m freestyle.

Yesterday in Sheffield, there was only one place available following the pre-selection of Olympic medallist and Commonwealth champion David Davies. City of Newcastle’s Andy Mayor won the B final of the men’s 200m butterfly.