Swimming: Duo secure Athens berth

The distance swimmers Adam Faulkner and Graeme Smith booked their Athens places on the first day of the Olympic trials in Sheffield yesterday.

Faulkner touched home first in the 400 metres freestyle final after a close encounter with Smith and David Davies, the latter missing out as only two athletes per event can qualify. All three finished inside the required qualifying time of 3min 50.81sec.

Matt Kidd set a new British record in the heats of the men's 100m freestyle when he beat his own previous best of 49.72sec to qualify fastest into the semi-finals in 49.65sec.

The women's 100m butterfly standard went twice within a few minutes with Ros Brett - the first British woman to swim sub-60 seconds - being usurped by Georgina Lee in the next heat.