Statement from SNZ on Open Water Swimmers

Swimming New Zealand selectors have decided they will not nominate any open water swimmers to be considered for selection to the Rio Olympics.

Ten places for the Rio 10km Open Water event were selected at last year’s world championships with a further 10 direct places decided at the FINA 10km Marathon Swimming Qualifier in Portugal last weekend.

New Zealanders Kane Radford, Phillip Ryan and Charlotte Webby finished 19^th, 34^th and 31^st respectively to miss out on direct qualification.

FINA, the world’s ruling body, offer one additional quota place for the leading swimmer from each of the five global regions – the Americas, Africa, Europe, Asia and Oceania – representing nations not already qualified.

With Australia qualified, New Zealand was the next highest nation from Oceania competing in Portugal, with Radford and Webby therefore earning an invitation spot for New Zealand.

However the selectors were not satisfied that there was sufficient evidence that either of the swimmers is capable of achieving the published nomination criteria which is that an individual swimmer must be capable of achieving a top 16 placing at the Games with the potential to win an Olympic Diploma (top eight placing).

This is the over-arching criteria established by the New Zealand Olympic Committee for selection of all New Zealand athletes across all sports.