In the lead-up to the Australian Olympic swimming trials, Bendigo's Jenna Strauch said the selection trial process was ruthless.
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She wasn't wrong.
Strauch swam an Olympic qualifying time in Sunday night's 100m breaststroke final, but it still wasn't enough to guarantee a berth in the Australian team for Tokyo.
Strauch needed to finish inside the top two in the final and swim an Olympic qualifying time of 1:06.97.
She swam a time of 1:06.96, but finished third - just 0.28 of a second behind second placegetter Jessica Hansen.
Chelsea Hodges won the final in a time of 1:05.99.
Hodges led from start to finish, while Strauch made the halfway turn midfield before powering home at the finish, but she she just failed to pick up Hansen for second.
Strauch started the titles by swimming a brilliant time of 1:06.37 in the heats on Sunday morning to be the second fastest qualifier for the final.
It was a personal best time and the first time she's broken the 1:07.00 barrier.
Strauch's strong form in the 100m augurs well for her pet event - the 200m breaststroke, which will be raced on Wednesday.
The Olympic qualifying time for the 200m breaststroke is 2:24.18. Strauch's best time is 2:24.49.
Read more: Strauch pumped up for Olympic trials
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