Streamlined News: Feb. 21, 2012

PHOENIX, Arizona, February 21. NICK Nick D'Arcy has been given the green light to compete in the Australian Olympic swimming trials next month by the Australian Olympic Committee. D'Arcy filed for bankruptcy last December after all his issues stemming from that 2008 fight that kept him off the Olympic team. D'Arcy was ordered to pay $180,000 to Nick Cowley, the man he assaulted, but D'Arcy filed for bankruptcy to avoid payment. The AOC made its decision after Swimming Australia made the same recommendation earlier today. D'Arcy will be one to watch in the 200 butterfly. He finished 2010 as the third-best swimmer in the world in the event after Michael Phelps, and 11th in 2011, though he did not swim a shave and taper meet last year.

Qatar is one of five countries lobbying for selection to host the 2020 Summer Olympics, and in a sign that they are embracing the Olympic theme of inclusion, the Middle Eastern country is sending women athletes to the Olympics for the first time in history. So far, only two women are going: swimmer Nada Arkaji and sprinter Noor al-Malki. The International Olympic Committee is allowing them to compete under the Olympic wild card program, which allows some athletes to compete, even if they do not meet qualifying standards. Arkaji is not listed among the top 100 in any event in the world rankings, with her biggest international competition being the Arab Games last year, where she was sixth in the 50 free with a 31.85.

The United States gained a roster spot in the men's synchro three-meter for the Olympics by finishing sixth yesterday at the FINA world cup meet in the venue where Olympic diving will take place. Troy Dumais and Kristian Ipsen told media they were not happy with their performance, but happy they have the opportunity to compete there again. China, as usual, won the men's three-meter synchro event, with Russia second and Malaysia third. With China, Russia, Mexico and Great Britain already securing spots on the Olympic roster before the meet, the remaining spots in the synchro three-meter went to the US, Malaysia, Canada and Ukraine.

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