The Wellington swimmer Gareth Kean says he's exceeded his own expectations in reaching the final of tonight's 100m backstroke at the world swimming champs in Shanghai.
Kean qualified eighth fastest in the semis setting a New Zealand record in the process.
The 200m is his favoured event and the goal before the world champs was to reach the semi finals of the 100m but Kean says the work he's done on improving his starts and his turns is paying off.
He's relaxed ahead of tonight's final saying having reached the top eight he simply intends doing his best and seeing what happens.
His coach, Garry Hurring, says Kean has taken almost half a second off his start times and there has also been a marked improvement in his turns.
Hurring says with there still being a year to go to the London Olympics, Kean has plenty of time to make further improvements.
