European Swimming Championships 2010
Venue: Budapest Dates: 4-15 August
Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, BBC Red Button and BBC Sport website (UK users only); listen on BBC 5 live sports extra, updates on BBC Radio 5 live Full details

Achieng Ajulu-Bushell was at a loss to explain her early exit from the 100m breaststroke on her debut for Great Britain at the European Championships.

Ajulu-Bushell, just 16, is considered a hot prospect for British swimming having transferred her allegiance from Kenya, who she represented last year.

But she came last in her heat and failed to reach Tuesday's semi-finals.

"I don't know what happened. I'm not overly prepared but it shouldn't have been that bad," she told Radio 5 live.

Ajulu-Bushell must now wait until Saturday's 50m breaststroke heats to see if she can have some impact in Budapest, having arrived in Hungary as one of Britain's most promising breaststroke swimmers in years.

I've got to go and see my coach, see what I did wrong, and learn from it I guess Achieng Ajulu-Bushell

Many British swimmers have already warned that performances at the Europeans may not be up to their usual standard - most have opted not to prepare fully for this competition, focusing instead on October's Commonwealth Games.

But Ajulu-Bushell would still have expected much better from her opening competitive swim in British colours, posting a time of one minute 11.80 seconds to come last in her heat and 24th overall, well outside the qualification places for the semi-finals.

That time was more than three seconds slower than the 1:08.51 she had set to qualify for Britain's European Championships team earlier this year.

"It was my first swim this week and I had a competition last week as well," she explained.

"I've got to go and see my coach, see what I did wrong, and learn from it I guess.

"I'll just see what happens and look forward to the 50m, really."

The teenager was born in Warrington in 1994, but represented Kenya at last year's World Championships before deciding to switch nationality to that of her country of birth.

The International Olympic Committee has since ruled she can swim for Britain at the London Games in 2012.

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