He claimed that he was disappointed with the results at the at the trials held in Auckland earlier this week.

A team of 12 was yesterday named to represent New Zealand in Delhi at the Games, which are due to open on October 3.

To make it into the squad swimmers had to reach times which demonstrated they had the potential to make it into the top six at the Games.

Regan said: "I actually expected better.

"I think the pressure got to them and that had a lot to do with it.

"They've got to deal with these situations a lot better and that's what I'll try to do over the next couple of months - put them under extreme pressure so they handle it better."

Regan said he would do this by using tough workouts, stiff competition and revising the expectations placed on them, believing they are struggling to cope with the pressure they are putting on themselves.

"They all look at the result more than the process - the process of doing the race the best way instead of looking at it as being a mountain that's too high to climb.

"We've just got to change our mindset, but that's do-able.

"I'm excited by them.

"They're a good team of individuals.

"They can all improve, can all go better."

New Zealand's elite swimmers have also come in for criticism from Sport & Recreation New Zealand (Sparc), who are demanding better results for the money spent.

If they fail to deliver in Delhi the funding for the high-performance swimming programme may be cut but Regan says it is not something he is unduly worrying about.

He said: "I don't feel that pressure myself and I don't want the swimmers to feel that pressure.

"All Sparc or anyone in New Zealand can expect is for the swimmers to do the absolute best they can."


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