Gorman qualifies for Olympic Games

Queensland's Melissa Gorman qualified for the Olympic Games with a 25th place finish in the FINA World 10km Open Water Championships in Seville, Spain.

The Redcliffe distance swimmer booked her plane ticket to Beijing by being the first Oceania swimmer home to claim a position in the inaugural open water race at the Olympic Games in August.

Gorman was among the leaders throughout the race but fell towards the finish to touch 1 minute 15 seconds behind defending world champion Larisa Ilchenko of Russia, with Britain's Cassandra Patten second and Spain's Yurema Requena third.

Australia's other entrant, Queenslander Brooke Fletcher, had a difficult race to finish in 43rd place and over eight minutes behind the Russian victor.

Dual Olympic 1500 metre freestyle champion Grant Hackett and seven-time Australian ironman champion Ky Hurst will take to the water in their 10km Olympic qualifier on Sunday evening (AEST).

Both will be seeking a top ten finish in the 52-man final to be assured automatic selection into the 2008 Beijing Games.