UBC's King qualifies for the London Summer Olympic Games

Photo credit Richard Lam

VANCOUVER - UBC Thunderbirds swimmer Savannah King has qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

She took second place in the women's 400-metre freestyle at the Canadian Olympic swimming trials in Montreal today.

But her time of 4:07.02 was under the Olympic qualifying standard.

King, who is originally from Vernon, BC, will make her second Olympics appearance, after swimming for Canada at the Beijing Games in 2008.

Brittany MacLean won the 400 freestyle in 4:06.06, breaking the national record.

Her sister, Heather, is a UBC swimmer and will also be competing at the Olympic trials.

"It wasn't only for me but all my family here. I've looked up to my sister my whole life," said MacLean in a Swimming Canada news release.

A former UBC Thunderbird also booked his spot in London.

Scott Dickens won the men's 100-metre breaststroke with a time of 1:00.43.

''I couldn't be happier,'' Dickens told Swimming Canada. ''This meet was all about getting the job done and getting on the team. This year was about swimming smart. Doing what I needed to do compete with the world in London. We broke down everything in my training and took a risk. It was really scary at the start but it paid off.''

The trials will run until Sunday at the Olympic Park Sport Centre in Montreal.

Rogers Sportsnet will carry the finals live each evening.  The event is also being streamed on the Internet.

Source: UBC Sports Info - with files from Swimming Canada