helsinki highlights a work in progress
It was a mixed weekend for Britain's swimmers in Helsinki, and, save for a few notable exceptions, one that told us little about the home team's prospects for the forthcoming world championships. Once again shackled by the now common policy of training straight through this meet, a final tally of 8 medals is a respectable result, even if slightly down on previous year's efforts.
Travelling south from Finland, there's no need to look beyond Edinburgh to find the star of the show in British eyes; Kirsty Balfour once again showed herself to be a class apart from her continental rivals at least, with a dominant showing in the 200m breaststroke that saw her add the European short course crown to her long course title from Budapest. Her win also saw a new British Record of 2.21.82 established, but in Melbourne terms, the shadow of Leisel Jones looms large, the Australian swimmer clocking a faster time than her Scottish rival at the Australian trials, and long course too. Balfour herself could of course only beat those actually in the pool and also showed a useful turn of speed to take silver over 100m.
There was also a second breaststroke silver medal, this time, for Kate Haywood who once again showed that she is learning to keep her nerve on the big stage as she finished runner up in the 50m breaststroke. That medal complements nicely her long course silver from earlier in the year, but there will be tougher challenges to be faced in Melbourne.
The standout performance amongst the supporting cast of bronze medals came from 16-year old Jessica Dickons, who took what many will have seen as a surprise bronze medal in the 200m butterfly, carving large swathes off her lifetime best in the process. Another 16 year old to impress was Fran Halsall, who built on an encouraging showing in Budapest with a huge lifetime best for 5th in the 100m freestyle and the fastest anchor leg in the pool for the ladies' medley relay to bring the team home for the final podium position.
The remainder of Britain’s medals continued the ladies dominance with only Darren Mew's 50m Breaststroke bronze gate crashing from the men's team, Lizzie Simmonds and Jo Jackson both also climbing on to the third step of the podium.
There was also a welcome return to international swimming for David Davies, who struggled to back up his impressive swim at the Dutch nationals which qualified him for Melbourne, as he came home in 5th spot. He remains a class act, as anyone who can swim sub-15 minutes long course is, but will no doubt be even more acutely aware of the threat Yuri Prilukov will pose in March, with the Russian setting the second fastest time ever on his way to the title.
Looking beyond the Brits it was once again the Laure Manaudou show, as the French superstar set a new 400m freestyle world record and narrowly missed her own 800m mark after some slightly eccentric pacing. Her star continues to rise and the home team must now aspire to follow in the coming months, with much hard work still to be done in the quest for World medals.