SWIMMER Meli Malani has created a national record in the 50 metre freestyle after clocking 23.18 seconds at a swimming competition at SPIRE institute in Ohio, the US over the weekend.
Malani slashed a 12-year record set by Carl Probert at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004, therefore bettering his chances as he seeks qualification for the Rio Olympics in the same event.
In a statement he said everything was on course for the goal he had set out to achieve.
“Preparation’s been going well. I am where I need to be right now, timetable and schedules are being made for North Carolina where I am going to try and qualify for the Olympics,” he said.
Malani is in the US on a scholarship from the international swimming governing body FINA. He will be participating in the Arena Pro series which is an Olympic qualifying event.
His last chance for qualifying on merit will be at Oceania Swimming Championships in July.
