Jonatan Kopelev has booked his place in the Israel Olympics squad after achieving a qualifying time in Slovenia.

The Israeli swimmer looked set for heartbreak despite winning the 50m title in Hungary last week as the distance is not an Olympic event, but he clocked a time of 54:38 in the 100-metres backstroke final to cement his place.

Kopelev said: “I just needed this to complete the crazy year I’ve had and I have realised my dream.
“In one week I won an historic gold medal at the European Championships and qualified for the Olympics.

“I will now start a month-and-a-half of excruciating work to be ready for London. I’m certain I’ll do well there as well.”

Gal Nevo, Yakov Toumarkin, Nimrod Shapira Bar-Or and Amit Ivri have already booked their places for London.