There have been several more official Olympic bids rolling in, with the latest batch coming from Europe.
The first will go to Croatia’s Kim Pavlin, who just wrapped up her sophomore year at Texas A&M, in the women’s 200 IM. Pavlin, who grew up in San Antonio and was born in Connecticut, is Croatian through her parents. She received an invite int he 200 back with a 2:12.79 from the European Championships. She still hasn’t been invited in the 200 IM, however, where she was a 2:16.3 at the European championships.
According to Nordic website Simma.nu, Finland has also filled out their roster with 4 new additions. Matias Koski already knew his fate with an “A” time in the men’s 1500 free. The future Georgia Bulldog is trains stateside in Atlanta, though, will now be joined by two male and two female teammates.
The additions to the men’s team are Ari-Pekka Liukkonen, a sprinter and the 50 free National Record holder, (22.22) and Matti Mattsson – a 200 breaststroker with a best of 2:12.65.
A pair of Finnish women will also joined them – Emilia Pikkarainen earned a spot with a 59.02 in the 100 fly and Hanna-Maria Seppala with a 54.97 in the 100 free.
And finally, Iceland has filled out their Olympic roster. In addition to A-qualifiers Sarah Bateman (50 free) and their towering 200 backstroker Eyglo Gustafsdottir (6’3 and 2:10.38), breaststroker Hilda Luthersdottir was called-up by FINA in the 200 breaststroke.
Luthersdottir, who was the Florida Gators’ number-one breaststroker last season, has a best of 2:27.11, swum at the Canet stop of the Mare Nostrum two weeks ago (a very fast meet indeed). She and Bateman will be teaming up, much like they’ve done many times in Gainesville, with Gustafsdottir leading off and Eva Hanisdottir on the anchor leg for a medley relay – the first Olympic relay in Iceland’s history.
Anyone know where a list of the invitees can be found.Just curious to see if there will be more invitations?Any idea?
Argentina swimmers Georgina Bardach bronce medal in Athens 2004 and Juan Martín Pereyra, bronce medal Pan Ams at Guadalajara, were also invited by FINA.
There are swimmers like Diego Castillo and Edgar Crespo from Panama who have not received their invitation yet and keep the hope to be in London
Kim’s invite was in the 200 backstroke with a 2:12.7