Unofficial reports indicate that High Wycombe swimmer Simon Burnett faces a race against time to be fit to compete in the British Olympic trials, after a cycling mishap led to a serious hand injury. The injury requried surgery and will seriously disrupt his training preparations for the trials and, of course, has implications for any subsequent participation in Athens. A ray of hope remains, however, as the current Olympic selection policy allows injured or ill swimmers a second qualification chance at May’s European Long Course Championships in Madrid.

Burnett, the 2003 NCAA champion over 200 yards freestyle, has become an integral part of the British men’s 4×200 relay squad since making his senior international debut at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, and his potential abscence from the Olympic squad would be a major blow.

All at pullbuoy wish Simon a speedy and successful recovery