We reported earlier this week how former Alabama swimmer Kristel Vourna was originally delivered an invitation from FINA to compete for her native country Greece at the 2016 Olympic Games, only to have her roster spot retracted due to an administrative error. Now, it appears that the 24-year-old butterflier will indeed be able to compete in Rio after all.
Although still not appearing on the latest and greatest Olympic entrants list posted on FINA, Greek news source Ekathimerini is reporting that FINA Executive Director, Cornel Marculescu, contacted the Greek Swimming Federation and informed them of Vourna’s reinstatement.
Of what looks like his swimmer’s ability to participate in Rio once again, Greek Swimming Federation President Dimitris Diathesopoulos, who is also a member of the FINA Bureau, states, “This time, personally as the head of the Greek federation, I would like to thank both FINA and Cornel Marculescu for their extraordinary action in favor of Vourna.”
Vourna already competed for Greece at the 2012 Olympic Games, finishing 12th in the 100m butterfly. She swam at the University of Alabama from 2011 to 2015, redshirting 2013-14 due to injury. She is the Greek national record holder in the women’s 50m and 100m butterfly events.
Classic FINA…
Vourna only has FINA B time in 100 fly.
How come she get the invite to swim 100 fly in Rio when Greece already has one FINA A entry in w100 fly (Anna Doudounaki)???
This is not only UNFAIR to hundreds other FINA B swimmers from other countries who don’t get to swim in Rio but also a blatant VIOLATION of FINA own rules.
Swimswam, you MUST clarify this with FINA
Likely they fear the CAS using the legal principle for the Us 07 Pan Pacs swimmer who.asked to tep Philipines in 2008 .Fina said yes then.no & CAS ruled for her because of Fina’s original letter
That’s so F’d up
when one nation is allowed to enter one swimmer with an OQT and one with OST, why not all nations? Even if FINA made a mistake, the greek federation also made one by not asking how this invitation came about. Kristel herself knew fully well she would not be allowed to swim in Rio when her faster teammate swims…
Much more like it.. Glad she gets her chance in Rio she deserves.
She doesn’t deserve it.
She knew it, FINA knew it, Greek Federation knew it.
why does FINA have to invite swimmers?
Glad to see this happen after the prior circumstances.
I’m not glad at all, this is a farce and violation of FINA rules.
Just think about hundreds of swimmers from other countries with FINA B times who don’t get to swim in Rio because the quota has filled up who deserve to be there.