World Record for Spofforth
The Swimmer Takes Gold in a Record Time at the World Championships
© Kim Ford
Jul 30, 2009
The British Gas swimmer started well and turned in second place behind Anastasia Zueva, the world record holding Russian. She battled hard to take the lead during the final 25m and touched in to win her first World Championship medal in 58.12, taking over half a second off Zueva’s world record time.
Zueva, who set her world record in the semi-finals, touched in at 58.18 to receive the silver followed by Emily Seebohm of Australia who took the bronze in 58.88. Fellow Brit Elizabeth Simmonds who trains with Loughborough ITC also took part in the final and finished just outside of her personal best in seventh place in a time of 59.71.
Spofforth said: “Last year I missed out on a medal by one hundredth of a second and this year I have won the gold by one hundredth of a second. I gave it my all but I wasn’t sure whether I would make it and come back at Zueva but I did it. I swam a better race than in the semis. I was very relaxed coming into this final and didn’t feel the tension like I normally do at other major meets. I am just delighted.”
Spofforth’s 100m Backstroke Semi-Final
The Portsmouth Northsea swimmer has been working on her speed since she finished fourth in the Olympic 100m Backstroke final last summer. Her training certainly paid off when she won the semi-final heat just 0.01 seconds slower than the world record.
The 21 year old entered the semi-final as the fastest athlete with a time of 58.78, breaking her own European and British records by almost half a second.
Qualifying for the World Championships
Spofforth qualified for the British Gas team in Rome at the Scottish National Championships held at Tollcross Park Leisure Centre in Glasgow during June. The swimmer broke two British records and won three gold medals during the course of the championships.
Swimming World Championships in Rome
The 13th FINA World Championships started on the 17 July in Rome. They combine five water based disciplines: swimming, open water swimming, diving, water polo and synchronised swimming. The swimming events will last a full seven days, they started on Monday in the Foro Italico which consists of four permanent and two temporary pools and will continue until Sunday.
Over the full 17 days of competitions approximately 2,500 athletes from 190 nations are expected to compete against one another in Italy's capital city.
