Pool problems

By Sharron Davies BBC swimming presenter and former Olympic medallist

Bill Sweetenham has to take some of the flak for the results in Montreal Sharron Davies

Last week's World Championships in Montreal were not good news for British swimming, and no amount of spin can brush over that.

The Commonwealth trials are taking place this weekend in Sheffield, and we're entering a key phase for the sport ahead of next year's Games in Melbourne.

On our current form I can't see us getting nearly as many medals as we did in Manchester 2002.

For a start, look at the number of personal bests in Montreal - that's where the line is drawn.

Out of 18 swimmers only four managed PBs in Montreal, so you have to say it was very disappointing.

When you're at the Worlds it's all about winning. Times are irrelevant in so far as it's not a time trial, you have to beat what's in the pool with you.

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My gripe is not with the swimmers - they are very talented. You have to look above them.

Why did 13 of the British team retire after the Olympics? I believe it's because they were unhappy with the environment around them.

I think Karen Pickering for one would without doubt have carried on after the Games if the situation had been different.

And just look at how Mark Foster has been treated - it was made very difficult for him to compete.

And that's where flexibilty comes in, because like most sprinters he's a maverick, like Linford Christie on the track or Gary Hall in the pool.

Athletes like this can't be put into some mould, they have to be allowed to perform.

Britain's swimming chief Bill Sweetenham has to take some of the flak. The results are there for all to see.

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I'm not prepared to name names but I know of three members of the British team who are trying to find ways to swim for different countries. That's the current situation.

Why is Zoe Baker swimming for New Zealand these days when she should be in the pool representing Great Britain?

Holding the trials now is also a dubious decision.

The team are going to be exhausted physically and mentally after the Worlds, so you have to call the whole concept of having Commonwealth trials now into question.

The times they have been set to qualify are very hard and if they do achieve them after such a disappointing Worlds then what does that say?

If we're to do well at the Commonwealths I believe Bill needs to change his approach to the team.

He's achieved many good things with British swimming but there have also been a number of mistakes.

We can't just try and ape the Australian and US models, because swimming in this country doesn't have the profile that it does there.

I'd like to see less emphasis on times and more on simply winning races. More often than not if you win then you'll have swum at a blistering pace anyway.

And I'd like to see our guys and girls competing more in the USA against the world's best.

I think they sometimes feel a fear factor when they do compete, and hopefully this would negate that.

Above all, Bill needs to become more flexible in his approach to the senior swimmers, otherwise I fear the future is bleak.