By Jarrod Potter
JUST a stroke, or likely less, separated Tooradin swimmer Josh Beaver from Olympic Games selection in his first event at the 2016 Australian Swimming Championships.
Beaver, 23, will have to regroup for his remaining two chances at making his maiden Australian Olympic Games Swimming Team after the former Casey TigerShark touched in at 53.77 in the 100m backstroke on Saturday night.
While the time was good enough for second place at the Australian titles, his mark fell just .38 of a second outside of the 100-metre backstroke qualifying mark of 53.39.
Queensland’s dominant backstroke swimmer, and Rio gold medal prospect, Mitch Larkin (52.54) comfortably beat the time to qualify.
His luck could change in the 100m backstroke qualification bid though, depending on qualification numbers across the globe.
FINA, the world swimming body, can also invite swimmers with “B” times to fill up events until the cap of 900 swimmers is reached worldwide, with his 100m backstroke fate in the balance until 5 July.
He’s still got two more chances to make the Rio Games off his own times though, with his beloved 200m backstroke coming up on Tuesday night as well as the 50m backstroke on Wednesday.
His qualifying time for the 200m – 1.56.48 – is under the Olympic Qualifying Time.
The races will be televised on Channel 7/7 TWO from 8pm on Tuesday/Wednesday nights.
Beaver’s long-time training partner in the pool Matson Lawson finished 13th overall in the 100m event.
