Lizzie Simmonds suffered Olympic agony as she missed out behind Gemma Spofforth and Georgia Davies.
Simmonds misses out on Olympic place to Spofforth
Lizzie Simmonds was the odd one out as she missed out on an Olympic place in the 100m backstroke behind Gemma Spofforth and Georgia Davies.
With three star acts but only two Olympic places, one top swimmer was also going to be disappointed, and after a late burst from Spofforth to take the win, Simmonds was left devastated as Davies' pipped her for second.
The former world champion finished in one minute 00.19 seconds, 0.02secs ahead of a determined Davies with both women inside the qualification time. Simmonds was in lane four sandwiched by her two rivals but the European silver medallist could not respond, a further 0.22 adrift.
24-year-old Spofforth has endured many emotional times in and out of the pool in recent years and after crashing out in the heats at the World Championships in Shanghai last year, she contemplated retirement.
"There have been a lot of times that I wondered whether I would be able to do it, a lot of ups and downs," she said. "Over Christmas I was still wondering whether I still had the strength to come back and make it.
"There is a lot of strength that comes from a lot of different things. "Five years of ups and downs. I have had to use a lot of strength to get through that adversity and I've had a lot of highs and lows and it all comes down to that last 10m to me."
Gutted
Spofforth missed out on Olympic bronze by four-hundredths of a second in Beijing, touched out by Margaret Hoelzer of the United States, and she still uses a picture of the Olympic scoreboard as her computer screensaver for motivation.
The Shoreham-born swimmer was "gutted" for Simmonds, while Davies clearly had not absorbed her achievement.
She said: "Going up against the Lizzie Simmonds and Gemma Spofforths, it's difficult to make teams.
"I kind of got used to that third-placed spot and I am speechless at the moment, over the moon.
"Even though I knew, because my training was going so well, I was capable of making the Olympic team it was kind of a dream for me so I am just a bit shell-shocked at the moment."
Simmonds was clearly devastated and said: "I am definitely hurting inside now right now. It was a tough race, I gave it everything. I am looking to the 200 now.
"I got a bit caught up with everything, being here and stuff. I should have had a lot more to give than that."
Qualifiers
Kate Haywood returned from Australia, where she trains alongside 100m butterfly champion Ellen Gandy under Rohan Taylor in Melbourne. The 2010 Commonwealth bronze medallist showed much-improved strength in the closing metres to make the GB team in 1:08.07.
Stacey Tadd, second in 1:08.96, will have to try again in Sheffield in June.
Haywood said: "I just wanted to get in here tonight and be in the team, and I have done that and in a good time. I have not been that quick for a while so I'm really really happy."
Robbie Renwick booked his second spot on the team when he won the 200m freestyle to add to his 400m title.
The 23-year-old led from start to finish with his time of 1:47.33, inside that required by British Swimming although Ieuan Lloyd was 0.31 outside.
Renwick said: "It was a great performance, back down to my personal best. The best time this season as well."
