Palmer looks to relay for a long-distance lift

Britain's Paul Palmer will wait until after today's 4x200 metres relay before deciding whether to compete in Friday's 1500m freestyle heats.

The 400m silver medallist in Atlanta four years ago is trying to get over the disappointment of playing only a supporting role in the Van den Hoogenband v Thorpe showdown.

Palmer, having failed to make the final of the 400m, could finish only fifth in the 200m yesterday even though he trimmed 0.06sec off his British record with 1min 47.95sec.

"I came here confident of getting a medal and not doing so is a hard cross to bear," he said. "But I didn't throw in the towel and have got better and better. I'm proud that I am showing such character."

If Palmer pulls out of the 1500m, Britain may be left without a representative. Nottingham's Adam Faulkner is struggling with a sore throat and Graeme Smith, the bronze medallist in 1996 who unexpectedly failed to qualify at the trials this time, will not be allowed to step in, despite being part of the relay squad, because the deadline for entries has passed.

Liverpool's Stephen Parry won a place in today's 200m butterfly final, qualifying in eighth spot after finishing third in his semi-final, but his team-mate James Hickman missed out; he was fifth in the same race but only 10th fastest overall.

Parry, the Commonwealth record holder, clocked 1:57.23, then saw the American Tom Malchow win the other semi-final in 1:56.02 for his second Olympic record of the day.

"This is my first Olympics and I am still trying to find my feet at this level," said Parry, "but the important thing was to get to the final.

"I was a little bit concerned this morning because you do not want to swim 1 seconds off your best at an Olympics. I will be gutted if I don't swim a second faster tomorrow and get under my best. I am not sure if the other guys in the final will be able to do that."

Hickman, now setting his sights on the 100m butterfly after finishing in 1:57.84, said: "I am disappointed but I have got the 100m later in the week and I am looking forward to that now.

"There are no excuses. I am swimming faster than I was in 1996 but this event has moved on now. But I will just go for it in the 100m."

Newcastle's Sue Rolph, the Commonwealth Games 200m individual medley silver medallist, bowed out in the semi-final. "I would have had to swim a British record to get into the final," she said. "I don't know if I'm disappointed; it wasn't bad really.

"A lot of it is down to these stupid semi-finals. A lot would change if it was just heats and finals. It's really difficult having semi-finals.

"There's no way we can complain about our swimming team, though. We haven't got anywhere near as good facilities as these. I don't care what people say, you have to have them.

"I know Newcastle is going to build a 50m pool in four years' time, but what good's that to me? It needs to be done now."