Jessica Schipper of Australia today held off a strong challenge from Canada's Audrey Lacroix to defend her women's Commonwealth Games 200 m butterfly crown. The double world champion and Olympic bronze medallist was pushed all the way by the 26-year-old Canadian but touched home first in a time of 2:07.04, about a second outside her own Games record.
Ellen Gandy of England came through in the final lap to clinch bronze from Schipper's teammate Samantha Hamill. "That was a tough last 25m, but I knew I had already done the hard work and I was able to hold on," said Schipper. "I love racing, that's why I do all the training. To come away with a Gold at the Commonwealth Games is really great."
The win for 23-year-old Schipper makes up for the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 100 m butterfly in New Delhi. It also made her the third woman to win the women's 200 m butterfly twice at the Commonwealth Games. Australians Michelle Ford in 1978 and 1982 and Susie O'Neill in 1994 and 1998, were also victorious twice in this event. Schipper showed her form coming into the competition by winning the Pan Pacific gold in the 200m in August and was the second fastest woman in the world this year. Melbourne-based Gandy, 19, is the British record holder and European bronze medallist. She won silver in this week's 100m butterfly.
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