Portugal Adds Distance Swimmer Tamila Holub to Olympic Roster

Yesterday, FINA confirmed Tamila Holub‘s invitation to the Olympic Games this summer after going under the qualifying time in the 800 free.

At the 9th Meeting Coimbra/XXVIII Torneio International on May 28, Holub swam the 800 free in a time of 8:36.21, a new Portuguese Junior Record.

The time qualified Holub for Portugal’s Olympic Team, but is still above the FINA “A” cut of 8:33.97. Holub is invited by FINA because the Portuguese Swimming Federation makes their own standards for their swimmers to qualify. The Federation’s standard in the 800 free is a 8:39, which Holub is comfortably under.

At the Junior World Championships in 2015, Holub placed 49th in the 200 free (2:08.72) and 26th in the 400 free (4:22.11). In her best Olympic event, the 800 free, she placed 19th (8:53.47). Holub excelled in the 1500 free, earning 9th and swimming a time of 16:43.22.

Holub is also currently competing at European Junior Swimming Championships, where she placed 11th in the 400 free (4:16.77). In the 800 free, Holub placed 2nd in a time of 8:36.57, just barely off her time in March.

Holub won the 1500 free by a margin of almost 5 seconds, coming in the wall at 16:20.80, a huge drop from last summer’s time of 16:43.22. Since there is no women’s 1500 free at the Olympics, Holub will not be able to compete in her best event.