Libby Trickett comes fifth in her Olympic trials and Joel Simpson comes second in his. She’s going to London, he’s not. Olympic selection is a fickle beast.
A teary Trickett was ecstatic when she qualified for her third Olympics after coming fifth in the 100m freestyle at this week’s trials to make the team as a relay swimmer.
Simpson’s the second-best K1 200m kayaker in Australia, but there’s no room for him.
In sports like kayaking and cycling, only the best in each individual event goes to the Olympics. In others, as many as the top three can be selected.
When it comes to relays, even the sixth best can be an Olympian.
The International Olympic Committee determines the number of competitors allowed in each sport, using criteria as simple as the size of the venues.
As a result, even the biggest sports throw up inconsistencies in individual events.
There’s room in London for up to three Australian track and field athletes and two swimmers in the individual events, but only one cyclist.
While only one cyclist can be selected for the prestigious individual sprint, three 50km walkers have been nominated to go to London.
The smaller sports also vary – only one wrestler can go in each weight category, two badminton singles players could make it, but three table tennis players can qualify for singles competition.
Team events and relays open up many spots, as they have for Trickett and fellow swimmer Tommaso D’Orsogna. But you have to pick your event.
D’Orsogna has made the Australian team as a relay swimmer after coming sixth in the men’s 100m freestyle at the Adelaide trials.
Triple Olympic champion Trickett was overcome with emotion when her fifth placing earned her a spot in the team.
Ben Edmonds also came fifth in his final in Adelaide – a better result than D’Orsogna’s. But there was no such emotion from him.
Finishing outside the top two in the 100m backstroke leaves him at home in Australia.
Trickett, D’Orsogna and the other 42 swimmers named on Thursday have given some shape to Australia’s growing Olympic team, which the AOC is hoping will number around 400.
They join the 25 track and field athletes nominated by Athletics Australia which is hoping to add another 15 or so to its final team.
Rowing is holding its selection trials in Sydney this week, while next month’s world championships will all but finalise the track cycling team.
Six sailors have been selected and nine synchronised swimmers are confirmed, while a team of four has been named in the canoe slalom.
Thirteen kayakers have qualified for the team for London, but Simpson isn’t among them after finishing second behind Murray Stewart in the K1 200m sprint in the national championships.
If only he was a 100m freestyler.
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