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In demand: Conor O'Shea to head review of GB swimmers

British Swimming has opened the investigation into ‘poor performance’ after their target of five medals was not met in London.

WHILE BRITAIN REJOICED in many successes at the London Olympics it seems that the performance of their swimmers has left many feeling cold.

Today, amid talk that Olympic funding may be redirected from the pool to disciplines providing more medals, British Swimming has announced that former Ireland international and current Harlequins director of rugby, Conor O’Shea, will head up the performance review.

In 2008, Team GB swimmers were the focal point for many after they hauled home six medals — including two golds and a world record for Rebecca Adlington — from Beijing

In the first week of this year’s Games the tension left upon Adlington’s shoulders was noticeable and many commentators were hysteric in their disappointment when the 23-year-old won bronze in the same events.

Michael Jamieson was the only other British swimmer to medal at the games — he took silver in the men’s 200m breaststroke behind Daniel Gyurta who set a new world record — leaving the official target of “five to seven” untroubled.

Joining O’Shea on the panel will be Thomas Lurz, who won bronze in Beijing and silver in London in the men’s marathon swim, along with British Swimming’s performance director Michael Scott and Craig Hunter, an independent member of the swimming management board.

The statement released today by British Swimming said:

“The aim of the debrief is to consider the performance results at the London 2012 Olympics, to determine the reasons for below medal target performance and identify key areas for improvement for inclusion in British Swimming’s strategy for Rio and beyond.

“It is anticipated to conclude the London 2012 Performance Debrief by the end of October 2012.”

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