Indonesian swimmers aim for personal bests at Beijing Olympics
7/8/2008 17:15
Although it seems difficult to get Olympic medals, Indonesian swimmers are
heading to Beijing with a mission to break their own records, local media
reported today.
Doni B. Utomo and Fibriani Ratna Marita will be debuting in
the Olympics attempting to surpass national records, said team manager Bambang
Udayana.
"It's beyond our ability to get a medal. So, they are aiming to beat
their individual times and, if possible, national records," Bambang told the
Jakarta Post.
Doni, 29, who will compete in the men's 200 meters butterfly
holds the national record he set (2:00.81) during the Southeast Asian Games in
Nakhon Ratchasima in 2007, it said.
The mark gifted him not only a gold, but
also a ticket to Beijing with the Olympic qualifying time set at 2:01.7, the
post said.
Fibri, 14, has a personal best of 2:23.08 in the women's 200-meter
medley and will be competing in the Olympics, spurred by her own goal to break
the national record of 2:22.20 set by Elfira Rosa Nasution at the national sport
championship or PON in 1985 in Jakarta, the post said.
"This Olympics will be
a good start for Fibri to have a world-class trial against the world's top
swimmers," said Bambang.
His participation would benefit the Indonesian
swimming team who have been struggling even against regional
rivals.
Xinhua
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