Suffolk’s Chris Walker-Hebborn insists he can challenge in Rio provided the selectors give him a reprieve following a mixed performance at the 2016 British Swimming Championships.
The 25-year-old claimed the British title in the 100m backstroke at Glasgow’s Tollcross International Swimming Centre last week, but could only manage a time of 53.73, nearly a second outside his personal best, and crucially well outside the 52.99 qualifying standard.
That leaves his hopes of swimming in Rio hanging by a thread, with the team set to be announced on Thursday, but Walker-Hebborn, who went to school in Bury St Edmunds and was a member of Team Ipswich, could get onto the plane as part of the medley relay squad.
And after what he admits was a difficult build-up because of a tooth problem, Walker-Hebborn was bullish that he can still make an impact in Brazil.
He said: “It wasn’t a great swim but I’m happy to come away with a gold medal, so it’s up to the selectors now.
“I need to reassess. I’ve had a few hiccups and I’m not one for making excuses, but if I’m firing on all cylinders I know it’s there for me.
“That was the first time in a long time that I’ve underperformed but hopefully they can oversee that and look at my consistency over the last couple of years.
“I had a bit of a dodgy run in and I’ve just got to take it as it comes.
“I think there is a strong possibility I can still be selected especially for the medley relay.”
Walker-Hebborn explained that a tooth problem had been bothering him in the build-up to the Championships but is adamant there is more to come from him.
He added: “I’ve been on antibiotics for a dodgy wisdom tooth that needs to be taken out, but I decided against it in the lead up to this so that maybe put me at 90 percent instead of 100 percent but I won the race and I’m happy with that.
“Selection is out of my hands now, they are tough times but there is a reason they select them and make it that hard.”
Tickets for the European Aquatics Championships – the biggest event to be held at the London Aquatics Centre since the 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games – from May 9-22 are now available here: www.euroaquatics2016.london
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