Canoeist, diver and showjumpers join Olympic rush

Friedli on course for sixth place in the 1996 Olympics Keystone

The Swiss canoeist, Sandra Friedli, has assured herself of a place in the Swiss Olympic squad, after finishing fifth at the slalom world cup final in Augsburg. Friedli joined a number of athletes who qualified or were selected for Sydney at the weekend.

The 26-year-old from Berne is seen as a potential medal winner for Switzerland, having previously taken bronze in both the World and European championships. Friedli will be looking to build on her experiences in the last Olympics, where she finished in sixth place.

The Genevan diver, Jean-Romain Delaloye, is also set for Sydney after passing the 350 point qualifying limit from the three-metre board during a Grand Prix meeting in Madrid. The 19-year-old will join Jacqueline Schneider and Catherin Maliev-Aviolat, who have already been selected in the synchronised diving discipline.

The St Gallen showjumper, Markus Fuchs, meanwhile, had double cause to celebrate at the weekend. The World Cup and European championship silver-medallist added the Grand Prix of Ascona to his list of victories on Sunday, just twenty-four hours after his place in the Olympic squad was confirmed.

Fuchs will be reunited with the same showjumping team which went to the Atlanta games in 1996. Fuchs, Beat Mändli, Lesley McNaught and Willi Melliger will again ride Tinka’s By, Pozitano, Dulf and Calvaro. Melliger enjoyed the greatest success four years ago – winning the Olympic silver medal.

swissinfo with agencies