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SCMP Reporter

Mark Kwok Kin-ming hopes to become the first Hong Kong swimmer to reach the top 16 in the Olympics, at the Sydney Games in September.

 The new golden boy, who returned home with a gold medal from the Asian Championships in South Korea, said he wanted to improve on his 21st place in the 400 metres medley in Atlanta four years ago.

 'I want to make the consolation B finals [or semi-finals for shorter events]. That would be a good accomplishment,' said the 22-year-old University of Southern California student.

 'I didn't get a second chance to swim in any event [after the heats] at the last Olympics and I would like to do it this time. It's always an honour to be the first to do anything.

 'As long as I give 100 per cent, the results will come,' Kwok said.

 While he will fine tune his skills in the three events in which he has qualified - 200m freestyle, 400m freestyle and 200m medley - he will also prepare for his final attempt to qualify for the 200m butterfly at the European Grand Prix series in June.

 'I am a little disappointed I didn't qualify for the butterfly but I'll try to qualify there,' said Kwok, who was 0.12 of a second outside the Olympic mark last week.

 While the prospect of reaching the B finals is a goal for Kwok, he hopes it will be a family affair in Sydney - his younger brother Matthew was close to the qualifying standard in the 100m breaststroke in Pusan and will also give it another try in June. 'That will be great if Matt can qualify. I've been talking about it since the last Olympics,' said Kwok.

 'It will be more fun if he makes it. It's something special to have two people from the same family on the same team and go to the same Olympics.'  Matthew clearly wants to join his elder brother in Sydney. 'My brother's encouragement helps me a lot. If I have anybody to look up to, that's my brother,' he said.

 'I'm confident of qualifying because my personal best is only 0.2 of a second out of the Olympic standard,' the University of Hawaii student said.



Kwok aims to hit heights in Sydney