By MATTHEW FISHER -- Toronto Sun
  SYDNEY -- The sweetheart of Winnipeg's Pan American Games was a surprise qualifier early yesterday for the women's Olympic 200-metre backstroke final.

 Kelly Stefanyshyn of Winnipeg and Michael Mintenko of Moose Jaw are two of Canada's last chances for medals in the Olympic swim meet, which ends tomorrow.

 Stefanyshyn, who won gold and bronze medals in the backstroke at the Winnipeg Games, qualified for the last spot in with a time 2:13.39. She was nearly four seconds slower than the fastest qualifier, Diana Mocanu of Romania.

 "I said to myself, please don't let me be ninth," Stefanyshyn said after staring nervously at the scoreboard to figure out if she had made the final eight.

 "I was tired this afternoon. I didn't get a good rest. Then I looked at the wall and couldn't believe I had made it."

 Stefanyshyn also is scheduled to swim in this morning's medley relay semi-final.

 Mintenko qualified for the 100-metre butterfly with the fifth best time in the semi-final. He swam his heat in an even 53 seconds and has drawn the lane beside world record-holder Michael Klim. Klim placed second to fellow Australian Geoff Huegill in the heats.

 "It was a huge goal to get to the final and that's where I am now at," Mintenko said. "I'm going to go out there with a smile on my face. I'm not trying for something magical like a world record."