Bree recorded a time 2 minutes 10.16 seconds in a very fast heat that was won by Japan’s Kosuke Kitajima who broke the Olympic record in the process.
Bree failed to qualify for the final by less than 0.2 of a second, with the first four in his race all qualifying.
“It was close there at the end, a lot of 2:09 highs and I know I’ll look at it now and see something I could improve on but it’s all a learning curve
I felt pretty good and pretty relaxed, I really can’t remember too much about the race so I’ll review it because it’s always good to get something back from it. That’s the main thing, I’m up there now with a lot of fast swimmers and I know I can improve, I feel like I’ve just tapped into my potential.”
On the strength in depth of the event
“The 200m is moving all the time. Kitijima has swum 2:07 but no one could have predicted that a 2:09 would be needed to make the final. An Australian coach said to me yesterday that a low 2:10 would definitely make the final and I wasn’t thinking that what’s I needed, I was just thinking swim fast, swim fast but those times just show you the standard.”
On his performance this week
“For sure, it’s a very positive Games for me you know, it’s just unfortunate they come around only once every four years but its good in terms of getting my name out there and up in the mix and the World Championships in Rome next year will be another opportunity to get after it.
I can only be happy, obviously there is a slight disappointment but I can’t dwell on that, it’s all done and dusted now.
