Swimming: FINA to introduce mixed relays

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Swimming’s world governing body, FINA, has approved the introduction of mixed relays, featuring two men and two women, to official competitions from 25 September this year.

Beijing Olympic silver medallist Keri-Anne Payne wrote on her page ”This is amazing!”

And former world champion Karen Pickering also agrees that the decision is an exciting one. “I think it’s going to be interesting and a lot of tactics are going to come into play,” she said. “A lot more teams will be able to field very competitive teams, whereas it’s difficult for some countries to put four good swimmers together for a men’s or female relay.

“But two of each is definitely more doable for a lot of relays, so the races will be closer and we’ll have more teams entered.”

However, Pickering does have one concern, “My only reservation is where they are going to fit it into an already very crowded programme. You’re going to see a lot of swimmers having to add another two races to an eight-day programme and that’s going to be tough.”

The mixed relays will be included at a major event for the first time at the 2014 World Short Course Championships.

Let’s watch this space…

Lizzie Flint, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine

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