Poort’s last shot at selection for Rio

This weekend, June 11 and 12 will be the final opportunity for NSWIS’ Jarrod Poort to qualify for the Australian Olympic Team for Rio 2016 as they take on the FINA Open Water 10km course in Setubal, Portugal. 

Poort and Queenslanders Chelsea Gubecka and Kareena Lee along with West Australian Simon Huitenga, will be racing for just one male and one female spot on the Olympic team, as well as battling against a tough international field and the unfamiliar and cold water in Portugal. 

 A total of 119 swimmers have entered the FINA event, with the Australians looking to finish top nine for a shot at selection. The best placed Aussie swimmer inside the top nine will then be nominated to the Australian Olympic Committee for selection. 

Failing a top nine position, the best placed Oceania swimmer will be nominated for selection in both the men’s and women’s event. 

Poort, who hails from Wollongong, NSW, has previously won a FINA World Cup title in Portugal and will be looking to replicate his race success again this weekend, where he will come up against Huitenga, who finished 15th at the 2015 FINA World Championships in Kazan.

Poort is also the current holder of the Australian title after he defeated Huitenga earlier this year, and he will be as hungry as ever for his second Olympic Games.

Open Water Head Coach Ron McKeon said, “Every nation has two swimmers going head to head to be in the top nine. For us, we have four swimmers with very different race plans and different strengths, and I have no doubt it will be a battle all the way to the end.”

“We are going to see an incredible race within a race between the Aussies and I am excited to see what they can produce on the day.”

Best of luck to Jarrod! #TeamNSWIS