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Swimmer thrown off by ceiling
MONTREAL -- Jennifer Fratesi's uncle Joe was once the mayor of Sault Ste. Marie, so she knows a bit about diplomacy.
But when the 16-year-old swim sensation missed the Olympic qualifying standard in the women's 200-metre backstroke last night by a mere 38/100ths of a second -- finishing second to Kelly Stefanyshyn in two minutes 14.90 seconds -- she couldn't help but grumble a little about the Olympic pool roof.
And justifiably so. The Grade 10 student wasn't the only swimmer at the Olympic trials troubled by the roof at this tank, which was built for the 1976 Games.
Swimmers and coaches have complained that the curved, sweeping arc of the yellow light standards directly above the pool throws backstrokers off-line. Often at this pool, swimmers subconsciously follow the curve and swim off-course. And inevitably, when swimmers do hit the plastic lane lines, which are old and brittle, they bruise and scrape their arms.
SCRAPES SHOULDER
Chris Renaud of Fredericton scraped his shoulder in the men's 200-metre backstroke, as did Erin Gammel of Kamloops, B.C., in the women's 100.
Deviating off-course in a major race, particularly when one hits lane lines, can cost a swimmer valuable seconds. In Fratesi's case, it could have cost her a spot on the Olympic team.
"People have lost Olympic berths because of the ceiling," national-team coach Byron MacDonald said. "Esthetically it's beautiful. From a practical standpoint, it's useless."
MacDonald said one of his own swimmers, Deke Botsford, missed making the 1988 Olympic team in the 100 back because he strayed and hit the lane line.
"I think it's stupid to have a high-level meet with no flags on the ceiling," said Fratesi, who moved to southern Ontario from the Sault as a 15-year-old to train at the prestigious Region of Waterloo Swim Club. "It's not an excuse, but it makes it a lot more difficult.
"I think that's what cost me," added Fratesi, who brushed into the lane lines during the closing 50 metres of the 200 back.
Fratesi, considered one of Canada's best young swimmers, will get another chance to earn a spot on the Olympic squad by making the standard (2:14.52) at the summer nationals in Winnipeg.
WINS 200 FINAL
Stefanyshyn, the 1999 Pan American Games bronze medallist in the event, qualified for the Sydney Olympics by winning last night's 200 final in 2:13.56. The Winnipeg swimmer already had qualified in the 100 back.
Mike Mintenko, the pride of Moose Jaw, Sask., qualified for the Games by capturing the men's 100-metre butterfly in 53.45, 12/100ths off the Canadian record held by Brampton's Stephen Clarke, who is doing Internet broadcasts of this event from poolside. Mintenko, who raised money last year to offset his training expenses by selling a calendar featuring himself in a swimsuit, had about 20 family members and friends in the crowd.
Local favourite Karine Legault, 22, qualified in the 800-metre freestyle by winning the event in 8:39.21.
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