Jones sees Olympic hopes sink in Sheffield

Swindon Dolphin Chris Jones won a last-gasp reprieve for this morning’s 200m breaststroke final but still finished a distant eighth at the British Olympic trials in Sheffield. The 26-year-old former Southampton University student had expected to swim in this morning’s B’ final after finishing as the ninth fastest qualifier in last night’s heats.

But the withdrawal of 100m gold medallist Chris Cook this morning saw Jones bumped up to the main event and the Marlborough star was unable to challenge Britain’s best for a medal.

Jones finished in a time of 2.18.20 minutes – more than seven seconds down on eventual winner Kris Gilchrist.

But following a disappointing showing in the 100m earlier this week – Jones failed to build on his PB in 200m qualifying last night as he again failed to deliver.

Gilchrist claimed gold in 2.10.44 and will be joined in Beijing in the 200m by Sheffield’s James Kirton, who finished with the silver medal.

“I’m a bit disappointed to be honest,” said Jones. “I didn’t swim as well as I did yesterday. “I got a personal best in the heats, which I was delighted with and I was a little bit worried that I wasn’t going to come away with that.

“This is it for me now. I’ll go back home today and then shoot off to Barcelona for a holiday.

“Hopefully that will just take my mind off everything and then I can just get straight back into training.

“I want to go to the nationals and just show people what I am made of. I’m very disappointed how this whole week as gone in general. I’d hoped I was going to swim better than I did.”

Source: Swindon Advertiser