Britta Steffen looks rather alarmed here - this photo was taken just after she’d won the 100m free at German Nationals, but unfortunately her time of 54.14 was 0.06sec outside the tough World Championships qualification time set by the DSV (despite Steffen’s swim being the 6th fastest time in the world this year). Ouch! That 54.08 cut is even tougher than the Aussie QT (54.44), and would have ranked 9th overall in 2010! I wonder if the DSV will do as Australian Swimming did and relax the selection rules a little once they realise that only TWO of their women are going to Shanghai?
I guess all this must have spurred Britta on for the 50m free a day later - she comfortably qualified in 24.67, so she will definitely get the chance to defend one of her world titles.
