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Key:

• Sydney: 2000 Olympic Games
• Fukuoka: 2001 Long Course World Championships
• Moscow: 2002 Short Course World Championships

men's butterfly

Butterfly has in recent years been a British strong point, with James Hickman and Steve Parry competing at the top of the world rankings and with the recent addition of the 50m fly to international events, Mark Foster joining them in the hunt for medals. There’s no doubt though, that the Australian butterfly swimmers have improved since Kuala Lumpur 4 years ago, as have many other Commonwealth swimmers, so don’t expect the home swimmers to have it easy in the Manchester pool.

The men’s 200m fly kicks the entire aquatic programme off on the morning of the 30th July, and England’s representatives will be looking to give the host nation the perfect start. Hickman of course is the defending champion and Parry held the Commonwealth record until the Sydney Olympics, so between them they will have their eyes on beating the number one ranked swimmer Justin Norris. He won bronze in Sydney, and at the same time set the current Commonwealth record of 1:56.17. One of the English swimmers is likely to have to go close to the British record to take the gold. Norris is competing in a lot of events in these games, having also qualified for both medleys and the 100 and 200 breastroke at the Australian trials, so he may not be 100% focussed on this event. IF he isn’t, don’t count out second string Aussie Heath Ramsay, currently ranked second and a 2000 Olympic semi-finalist.

The hundred is perhaps the hardest of the butterfly events to call. With no Michael Klim due to injury, the door would appear to be open for Australia's Geoff Huegill, world and Olympic bronze medal winner in this event, to claim the gold. But it just doesn’t seem as simple as that, even though he is currently top of the rankings by over half a second, in a time that is faster than the British record. Second Ranked Mike Mintenko of Canada is an experienced competitor and is likely to push the Australian all the way and of course, James Hickman will have a massive incentive to do well in front of his home crowd, having been disqualified at the start 4 years ago. He will, however, have to swim close to, and probably faster than, his best of 52.87, a time set over 2 years ago, to have a realistic medal chance. Our prediction? Heugill from Mintenko, just, with Hickman third. In domestic terms, Todd Cooper will again be looking for a final place, being ranked 7th, and don’t count out England’s David Bennett for an outside lane. Steve Parry should make the final, but will stand a better chance of medalling in the longer 200m event.

The 50m event will see the resumption of the long-standing rivalry between Mark Foster and Geoff Huegill. Huegill is the world record holder and reigning world champion from 2001, winning the gold in a race where Foster took the bronze, so must start as favourite. This year the two of them are once again at the top of the rankings, with Foster currently ranked second, just a few tenths behind his Australian rival. It will be a close race and could go either way, depending on how the swimmers feel on the day. Behind them in the rankings, top Canadian Mike Mintenko hasn’t been selected to swim the 50, and with only three swimmers from each country allowed, the event opens up for other swimmers to get a finals swim. Scotland’s Todd Cooper is currently ranked 7th and should be a good bet for a final place. If he gets there anything could happen. Hickman may swim, but will most likely be satisfied with a final spot if he does. In reality they won’t trouble the top two for the medals.