Olympics 2016: Sky Scholar and swimmer Siobhan-Marie O'Connor seals Rio place
By Matthew Treadwell
Last Updated: 18/04/16 9:33am
Sky Academy Sports Scholar Siobhan-Marie O'Connor has qualified for this summer's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro after achieving the qualifying standard at the British Championships in Glasgow.
O'Connor was comfortably inside the required time in the 200m individual medley as she finished almost two and a half seconds ahead of Hannah Miley, with Aimee Willmott in third.
"Four years ago, I was in London in my first Olympic trials situation and I was really going for the 200m medley, but the pressure really got to me," said the 20-year-old Commonwealth champion.
"I was pretty young back then so I'm really glad to come back and book my spot because the 200m individual medley is what I really want to swim.
"I just knew I had to really relax and try and swim the swim I had been training for, focus on the process rather than thinking 'I have got to get this time'."
Jazz Carlin and Ben Proud also booked their places in Brazil on day five of the event at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre.
Welsh swimmer Carlin made the qualifying standard for the 400m freestyle with a time of four minutes 4.33 seconds.
Carlin had won the 200m and 800m earlier in the week, but her final swim proved decisive in securing her Olympic place.
The 25-year-old, who failed to qualify for London 2012 after illness interrupted her preparations, said: "I was trying not to focus on the time too much.
"I was trying to relax and enjoy the race, enjoy the atmosphere, enjoy the Olympic trials, whereas towards the start of the week I was stressing myself out, being so tense and really moody with everyone around me.
"I did it on the last swim, so I left it a bit late but I couldn't be any happier right now."
Carlin also acknowledged how her 2012 heartbreak had spurred her on to victory.
"I watched the Olympics. I had a month or so out of the water and I thought 'you know, I can give this one more shot'," she added.
"It was amazing to watch the GB swimmers race but I don't want to watch on the sidelines - I want to be there as part of the Olympics.
"There's a saying that failure pushes you to success and I've really used that, the real lows, to bring me up to where I am now.
"This week has been tough. I have really put pressure on myself, so it feels like a massive weight has been lifted off my shoulders."
Meanwhile, Proud set a British record of 21.65 seconds in the 50m freestyle during the heats and won gold in the evening in 21.73.
The Plymouth swimmer, who was beaten by Scottish teenager Duncan Scott in 100m, said: "It's been four years in the making with a lot of dedication and hard work.
"It's not quite sunk in yet but I think over the next few days, it will be a massive relief.
Tim Shuttleworth is almost certain to join Proud in Rio after winning the 1500m freestyle in a time of 14:55.23 - 12 hundredths of a second off the qualifying standard, while Scotland's Stephen Milne also has a chance after finishing four seconds off the mark.
