Brit Pair Take First Swimming Medals in Rome
Jackson and Adlington Receive Silver and Bronze at the World Champs
© Kim Ford
Aug 1, 2009
Italy’s Federica Pellegrini broke the four minute mark in the 400m Freestyle on home soil last Sunday with the Joanne Jackson and Rebecca Adlington close behind.
Twenty two year old Jackson raced into an early lead and took the first turn ahead of the others. By the 100m mark she had been sandwiched into second place after being overtaken by the Italian and Adlington chasing behind. Jackson remained half a second behind Pellegrini for the remainder of the race.
The Italian turned within her own world record time at the 300m mark and took the gold in a new time of 3.59.15. Jackson touched in with a new British record of 4.00.60 followed by Adlington who had given her all in the final 50m to set a new personal best and take bronze in 4.00.79.
The Girls' Reactions to the Record Breaking 400m Freestyle Final
After the swim Jackson said: “It seemed like the whole of Italy was out there tonight cheering on Federica and it pushed us all to the finish, to see those kinds of crowds watching that type of amazing racing is what it’s all about. It helps when there’s two of us in a race like that but Federica was in a class of her own tonight. I'm so proud of what Becky and I achieved tonight. For me it’s a place better than Beijing and I'm really happy with that.”
Adlington said: “I'm so happy with that swim and world championship medal. I was bitterly disappointed with my heat swim. I didn't feel good this morning, I've struggled to find my rhythm in this meet but it was much better tonight and I'm delighted to have a world championship medal. This race was always going to make history and to do a best time and be a part of it is amazing.”
The 20 year old double Olympic gold medallist added: “To come off the back of the Olympics and get a world medal means everything.”
The 400m Freestyle Heats
Adlington was the first of the British pair to qualify for a place in the final after taking second place in her heat in a time of 4.05.70. Jackson won the next heat securing her place in 4.03.48.
The final and most impressive heat of the morning was won by Pellegrini who looked set to hit a new world record time as she went into the turn at 200m. The Italian failed to keep up the pace and touched in at 4.01.96 saving her energy for the final later on.
Pellegrini went into the final as the fastest swimmer. Jackson ranked third and Adlington qualified as eighth fastest.
Other Results from the 13th FINA World Championships:
Davies Lowers His Own British Record
