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Hodgson hopes to be Beijing-bound

26/ 3/2008

STOCKPORT swimmer Andrew Hodgson admits London 2012 may prove his best chance of Olympic success – but that will not stop him targeting a place in Britain’s team for 2008.

The 20-year-old backstroke specialist heads to Sheffield on Monday for the British Championship and Olympic trials to bid for a top two finish and qualification for the 2008 Games.

Hodgson will arrive at the Ponds Forge pool as a decent each-way bet for qualification after finishing fourth in the 200m backstroke a year ago and qualifying for the 100m final – only to miss the final due to a clash with the 200m.

"I will be extremely pleased if I qualify this year because it will be unexpected from a lot of people," he said. "Just going to the trials and having that opportunity is one I never thought I would have – so all I want to do now is swim fast.

"I am swimming fast and I am fully focused on qualifying – I did well over the summer and I have been doing a lot of training for speed and doing what needs to be done.

"It is very exciting and with the trials almost here it is all about gearing up for that and giving myself the best possible chance. It is about getting down and swimming as fast as I can to give myself the best chance of qualifying.

"For me my real aim is the 2012 Olympics in London but to make the Olympics this year would be a great experience and we will see how far away I am at the trials."

Hodgson is one of 17 swimmers representing Stockport Metro in Sheffield, including British 100m and 200m champion Michael Rock, Cassie Patten, Keri-Ann Payne and James Goddard.

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