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June 25, 2008

University of Louisville swimmer and BIG EAST Swimmer of the Year, Andrei Radzionau, clinched an Olympic berth to Beijing, when he set the national record in the 50-free for his native country of Belarus.

He guaranteed his spot in the Olympic Games by the virtue of his performances at the Belarus National Championships this past weekend. Andrei clinched his spot by winning the 50-meter freestyle along with establishing a new Belarus national record of 22.72.

U of L's Vali Preda, qualified last year at the World Championships in the medley relays for Romania. U of L head coach Arthur Albiero will act as a coach for the Romanian national team as he has coached several members of the team in his collegiate coaching career at both Alabama and Louisville.

The Cardinals will send eight swimmers to the US Olympic Trials with the latest addition to the contingent being distance expert Shane Lichtenberg, who had an inspired weekend competing at the Nashville Summer Sizzler. He achieved Olympic Trials qualifying times in the 400-Meter Freestyle (3:59.35) and 1500-Meter Freestyle (15:47.53).

U of L has had only one previous Olympian in swimming when Katarina Klepkou swam for Greece in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.