Interesting developments were reported in the weekend papers over the appeal of Brisbane swimmer Andrew Mewing which centres on his non-selection in the Aussie Olympic Team for Beijing. 

Mewing finished 8th in the 200 metre freestyle at the Telstra Nationals in March in an A-qualifier time, but wasn’t selected on the team for the 4 x 200 freestyle relay.

Swimming Australia criteria states that up to eighth place in the 100m or 200m finals will be considered for selection, provided the swimmer has met the B-qualifying time.

Ordinarily this might have been a bit strange but what made it a controversial omission were the later actions of Head Coach Alan Thompson and the selection panel.

Thompson and the selection panel then went on to make another decision, a decision which made Mewing’s omission all the more puzzling.

They then chose to select Felicity Galvez for the ladies 4 x 200 freestyle relay when Galvez only posted a B-qualifier time and is ranked only the 9th fastest in the 200 freestyle.

You can see where Mewing is coming from when asking the Swimming Australia tribunal to ‘please explain’ his omission from the team when his credentials stack-up better than Galvez.

Mewing’s background in swimming is impressive. He’s represented Australia on a number of occasions, and I feel he won’t let Australia or our 4 x 200 relay down in any way in Beijing. From an Olympian’s perspective I’d like to see as many swimmers go to the Olympics as possible, provided they meet the criteria and I’m sure the AOC feels the same way due to the record our swimmers have at the Olympics.

Australia’s swimmers have brought home over 150 medals since the modern games kicked off in 1896; the closest to that medal count is Athletics which is back on 65!

So do you think the AOC would like to cram more swimmers onto the Beijing team?  I think so too!  Mewing is a very popular swimmer and has received a wave of support from past and present swimmers, many in the current team, who want him to press on in his bid to become an Olympian. 

This case is seen by many as a watershed moment for swimmers in Australia.

Many controversial non-selections have occurred over the years but very few have actually been fought through the system.  Swimming Australia has so much swimming depth to pick from and a very successful selection criterion which has served our teams well for decades. 

However there are gaps in every system through which individuals can fall into and therefore there has to be an avenue in which the individual can fight for his case. We are seeing this with Mewing’s case and if his bid is successful it will give future swimmers confidence the system will allow them to air their grievances in terms of non-selection.

Mewing now fronts the Court of Arbitration for Sport to get an objective look at his swimming results, tribunal hearing and case for selection.  Alan Thompson is quoted on the weekend saying the team will welcome Mewing if CAS finds he was denied natural justice in his tribunal hearing and should have been selected. 

I say give the bloke a go in the good old Aussie fashion.  Mewing has swum fast enough to qualify for the Olympics and there’s a spot open on the Aussie team, so what’s the hold-up?   

Feeling your legs burning as you pump them up and down on an exercise bike isn’t the most pleasant feeling I have ever endured and if you have done it for even half an hour you know it can hurt.
 
So imagine doing it for 150 kilometres without a break!
 
Are you feeling the pain yet?
 
Well [...]

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You’d have to go all the way back to the 50’s and 60’s to find such a consistent and outstanding performance at an Australian Titles.
 
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