Italy: Federica Pellegrini is undergoing medical tests in Rome this morning after suffering breathing problems in an 800m freestyle at the Italian s/c nationals in Genoa over the weekend. The 200m Olympic champion will be tested at the Italian Olympic Committee's Medical Institute in Rome. She will have a cardiogram and undergo breathing tests. One of the swimmer's coaches, Gianni Nagni, told the media in Genoa that an allergic reaction to an anti-'flu jab was suspected as having been the cause of Pellegrini's problems. The day before the 800m, she had suffered a bout of hyperventilation but had decided to swim on.

South Africa: on the first day of action at the 9th African Swimming Championships, held at the Ellis Park Aquatics Centre, Johannesburg, the clock reflected a set of times modest by comparison to the trend at the end of a speedy year. Some highlights: Men - 200m freestyle: Oussama Mellouli (Tun) 1:50.28; Jason Dunford (Ken) 1;52.06. 50 backstroke: 1 J Dunford, 26.73. 100 breaststroke: Malick Fall (Sen) 1:02.71; William Diering (RSA) 1:02.72, Thabang Moeketsane (RSA) 1:04.30. Women: 100 free: Melissa Corfe (RSA) 58.10.

Spain: the national team for the European s/c Championships in Rijeka, Croatia, from December 11 to 14, has been announced: Men: Sergio García (200m medley and breaststroke); Rafael Muñoz (50 and 100 'fly); Javier Noriega (50 free); Aschwin Wildeboer (50, 100 and 200 backstroke); Alan Cabello (100 and 200 medley); Alex Villaécija (100 'fly and 200 free). Women: Mireia Belmonte (400m free, 200m breast, 200 and 400 medley); Mercedes Peris (50 and 100 back); Erika Villaécija (200, 400 and 800 free); Patricia Castro (200 and 400m free); Natalia Torné (100 and 200 back).