体坛英语新闻：British swimmers officially selected for London Olympics

LONDON, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The British Olympic Association (BOA) confirmed Saturday that 38 swimmers have been officially selected to represent Britain for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

With the announcement, 59 British athletes have now been selected for the London Games from four sports: athletics-marathon, boxing, sailing and aquatics-swimming.

The 19 male and 19 female swimmers achieved their places by securing the FINA "A" or top 16 world ranked qualifying standard and finishing in the top two places at this week's qualification event at the London 2012 Aquatics Centre.

The group of swimmers selected contains 20 swimmers who hold British records; and 12 swimmers who have won World Championship medals.

The squad includes Beijing 2008 double Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington, open water silver medallists Keri-Anne Payne and David Davies, and 400m freestyle bronze medallist Joanne Jackson.

"Many of the swimmers selected to Team GB today have enjoyed success at European, Commonwealth and World level, and I am sure they will be looking to translate their form on to the Olympic stage where they will be encouraged by the support of a passionate and enthusiastic home crowd," said Team GB Chef de Mission Andy Hunt.

Michael Scott, Team GB Swimming Team Leader and British Swimming National Performance Director said: "This GB swimming team is a real mix of tried and tested experienced former Olympians together with an exciting crop of talented youngsters who will sample their first Olympics in London."

British swimmers have an excellent tradition of success in Olympic competition, having won 65 medals - 15 gold, 22 silver and 28 bronze. This includes a hat-trick of gold medals won by Henry Taylor at the London 1908 Olympic Games swimming competition.

At the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, British swimmers won three medals in the pool: Rebecca Adlington won gold in the 400m freestyle and 800m freestyle and Joanne Jackson won bronze in the 400m freestyle. They also won three medals in the open water 10km events.