Criticisms for dropping 800m free style for 2012

BRITISH Swimming head coach Dennis Pursley has criticised the prospect of dropping the women’s 800metre freestyle event from the Olympic programme as early as 2012.

The event is the favoured distance of double Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington, but there are suggestions world governing body FINA could request it be replaced by a 1500m freestyle race.

The move would aim to unify the men’s and women’s Olympic swimming programme for the first time.

Pursley said: “I am strongly opposed to the suggestion that this could be introduced for London 2012 while our athletes are in the middle of their Olympic training cycle.”