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Perfect timing by schoolgirls

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Student Swimmers Sandy Chan Wing-suet, Sze Hang-yu and Hannah Wilson all qualified for the Athens Olympics with strong performances at Kowloon Park pool over the weekend.

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The Time Trials were the last chance for Hong Kong swimmers to achieve the Olympic B standard qualifying time. Nine Hong Kong swimmers have qualified for the Games now.

Hannah, a 15-year old student from Island School, rewrote the record books in beating her own 100-metre freestyle mark with a new time of 57.60 seconds. But Hannah's eligibility for the big event remains in doubt after the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) apparent decision to enforce a 'passport only' qualification for athletes this year. The Hong Kong Olympic Committee has promised to look into Hannah's case and has approached the IOC for a decision, which is still pending. Hannah also qualified for the 50m freestyle with a speedy time of 26.62 seconds on Saturday.

Diocesan Girls' School (DGS) ace Wing-suet left rivals in her wake with a time of 2 minutes 16.49 seconds in the 200m butterfly - also a new record.

Another DGS swimmer, Hang-yu, booked her place in Athens with fast times in both the 100m butterfly (1:02.08) and the 200m freestyle (2:04.97).

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Swimmers who achieved Olympic qualifying times:

(one squad place per event)

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