19 Jul 2011

Cara Baker misses qualifying directly for Olympics

6:17 pm on 19 July 2011

New Zealand's Cara Baker has missed out on qualifying directly for the London Olympics after falling ill before the 10 kilometre open water event at the World Swimming Championships.

Team manager Philp Rush says Baker fainted several times because of a combination of heat stroke and low blood pressure but recovered after medical treatment and decided she could swim.

She had to finish in the top 10 but came in 21st, half a minute behind the winner, Britain's Keri-Anne Payne. after four laps of the course at Jinshan City Beach near Shanghai.

Rush says it's a fantatic effort after a terrible start to the day and Baker managed to stay on the back of the main group, finishing only 10 seconds outside the top 10.

He says she'll compete in the five kilometre swim on Friday.