Au aims to crack time barrier at the Olympics
Stephanie Au Hoi-shun is aiming to break new ground - and the one-minute barrier - in her pet event when she takes to the water at the London Olympics.
Au is one of three Hong Kong athletes who were only last week given the nod by world governing body Fina to compete at the Games, based on 'B' standard qualifying criteria. The others are Hannah Wilson and Sze Hang-yu, who will swim one event each. Au will contest the 100-metres and 200-metres backstroke, in both of which she is the Hong Kong record holder.
'My priority will definitely be the 100 metres, the event in which I came very close to making the Olympic qualifying time,' said the 20-year-old, who started her intensive build-up for the Games yesterday before leaving for a training camp in Wales in mid-July. 'I want to better my own Hong Kong record in London and break the one-minute barrier so I stand a chance of reaching the last 16, which no Hong Kong swimmer has ever managed.
'It may seem a dream to finish below one minute, but if you don't dream, you will never get there.'
Au's Hong Kong record, set at a time trial in Shing Mun Valley Swimming Pool in April, stands at 1:1.06. That is just outside the Olympic 'A' standard qualifying time of 1:00.82. The 'B' standard is more than two seconds slower. The world record is 58.12 seconds, set by Britain's Gemma Spofforth in 2009.
Only swimmers achieving the 'A' standard qualifying time can be guaranteed a place at the Games.
Au said she felt sorry for Wilson for only being allowed to take part in the women's 100m freestyle. 'We thought she might be able to get into the 100m butterfly as well because she ranks quite high in the 'B' standard, but it did not happen,' said Au.
Fina set the number of swimmers for London at a maximum of 900, which means many who achieved the 'B' qualifying standard were rejected.
Au admitted waiting for Fina's announcement had been an anxious time. 'We had to play a long waiting game because there was no guarantee of a place,' she said. 'The system for the Beijing Games was different and 'B' standard qualifiers were also guaranteed a swim. I achieved the time six months before the Beijing Games and then I could fully focus on my preparations.'
