11:55a.m. 1st August 2008

| By Jon Tuxworth

Christine Hamill with her daughter Samantha, who is swimming in the Beijing Olympics. Photo: Chris McCormack/177152a

“Getting to 2012 (London Olympics) is definitely a big goal for me, but I still want to try and get into the Olympics in 2008.

“It’s going to be a big ask though because two of the best 200m ‘fly swimmers are Australians (Jessicah Schipper and Felicity Galvez).

These quotes are from Hamill’s first interview with the Daily in January 2007, not long after arriving on the Coast from Victoria with coach Peter Gartrell.

Up against Schipper and Galvez at the Olympic trials it did appear a big ask for the 17-year-old to seal a Games berth in the 200m butterfly.

But, inspired after qualifying for the 400m individual medley just a few nights earlier, Hamill reeled in a 1.64 second deficit in the final lap to reel in Galvez and ensure she will race twice in Beijing.

When Samantha’s competing:

400m IM heats: Saturday, August 9 (10.21pm our time)

400m IM final: Sunday, August 10 (12.39pm our time)

200m butterfly heat

Tuesday, August 12 (9.14pm-9.40pm our time)

200m butterfly semi-final: Wednesday, August 13 (12.25pm our time)

200m butterfly final: Thursday, August 14 (12.39pm our time).