By Tom Degun at the Aquatics Centre on the Olympic Park in London

Hannah Miley_wins_British_Championships_Aquatics_Centre_March_3_2012March 3 - Hannah Miley (pictured) proved the star of the show on day one of the British Gas Swimming Championships as she posted the fastest time in the world this year in the 400 metres individual medley, booking her place at the London 2012 Olympic Games in the same pool that will be the focus of the world's attention later this year.


The Championships are serving as the trials for the Olympics and Paralympics as well as the London 2012 swimming test event.

To guarantee a place at the Games, swimmers need to finish in the top two in their event and also make the A-standard time.

Miley made the most of the opportunity finishing in 4min 32.67sec, the second fastest time in British history, to take the title in an Olympic qualifying time.

Aimee Wilmott posted a personal best of 4:37.48 to take silver and also secured London 2012 qualification while Steph Proud took third place and the bronze medal in 4:43.10, although neither posed any real threat to Miley, who said she was delighted to secure victory.

"I did not expect the time and I am really chuffed," said the 22-year-old from Swindon, who won silver in the event at the Shanghai 2011 World Championships.

Hannah Miley2_4_March_
"The crowd was electric and I can't wait to see what it will be like at the Olympic Games.

"The pressure is off now I have qualified.

"Training has been great, now I have to maintain it.

"In the past at major sport competitions I train well then I go out and let it drop, so I now need to maintain it."

For Wilmott it was also extra special, coming 12 months after she disqualified in the heats of last year's World Championship trials in Manchester for an alleged infringement on the breaststroke turn.

She then had to miss the second qualifying chance, as it clashed with her A-level psychology exam.

Willmott, whose father Stuart swam for Britain in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, added: "Dad is really excited about it.

"It's brilliant and I am really happy."

Roberto Pavoni (below) was the other standout performer as he posted the world's best time in the men's 400m individual medley with a time of time of 4:12.43 to secure a London 2012 berth.

Roberto Pavoni_4_March_
Joe Roebuck finished in second place in a time of 4:14.48 to meet the Olympic qualifying standard while Sheffield's Matthew Johnson took the bronze in a  personal best time of 4:16.53.

"It's an incredible feeling," said Pavoni after picking up the gold medal.

"It's been a dream of mine for quite a few years so to qualify for the Olympics and win, and to do it in a personal best is amazing.

"I knew the qualifying time wasn't going to be the issue tonight.

"I knew it would take a faster time to win than just to qualify so it was just about going out there and trying to win the race."

Robbie Renwick was the fifth and final swimmer to qualify for London 2012 as the 22-year-old from Glasgow won gold in the 400m freestyle in a personal best of 3:46.73.

David Carry finished in second in 3:48.36, just outside the qualifying time while Iuean Lloyd took bronze in a personal best time in 3:48.86.

"I'm absolutely ecstatic," said Renwick.

"I've been hitting personal bests in training which is always a good sign coming into the meet and really I've stepped up for the Olympic year and hopefully we can keep the ball rolling now all the way to the Olympics."

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