Gemma Spofforth became Britain’s first long-course World Champion since 2003 after a world record breaking swim in the 100m Backstroke at the FINA World Championships in Rome.
British Gas swimmer Spofforth went into the final alongside team-mate Elizabeth Simmonds and they had tough competition from new world record holder Anastasia Zueva (Russia) and Olympic silver medallist Kirsty Coventry.
The British record holder Spofforth, who finished fourth in the Olympic 100m Backstroke final, swam close to the old world record in her heat and it was clear that she had more to come.
The final got under way and saw Zueva take the lead and the Brit turned in second place at the 50m point. But it was Spofforth that showed her strength through the final 25m to take the title from Zueva.
She took over half a second off Zueva’s world record after finishing in a time of 58.12 and won her first World Championship medal.
“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,” Spofforth said.
“I gave it my all but I wasn’t sure whether I would make it and come back at the 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. It means so much to me and I just want to go back and sit on my bed and relive it again.”
Taking part in her first World 100m Backstroke final, Simmonds swam just outside of her personal best as she touched in seventh place in a time of 59.71.
The silver medal went to Zueva in a time of 58.18 and the bronze was won by Emily Seebohm (Australia) in 58.88.
The semi-finals of the women’s 200m Freestyle saw Jo Jackson and Caitlin McClatchey drawn into the second race and had to listen to Federica Pellegrini break the world record in the first semi-final.
World 400m silver medallist, Jackson, swam a well paced race as she broke her own British and Commonwealth record after touching home in a time of 1:55.54.
She turned at the 50m mark in third and showed her strength through the back end of the race as she moved to second place to take a second off her record. She qualified as third fastest for tomorrow’s final.
“I am really pleased with that,” Jackson said. “I have just reached my first 200m Freestyle major international final and that is great. I have wanted to go that fast for ages and I am so excited about the relay.
“In the final I want to go and have fun and hopefully get another personal best. I would love another medal but the 200m Freestyle isn’t my main event.
“I have got a very busy programme here and I am just taking it all one day at a time and enjoying my experience here.”
McClatchey posted a new personal best time as she finished in fourth place in the semi-final with a time of 1:56.62. The first semi-final proved to be too fast though and she was pushed into ninth place overall just 0.04 seconds off a final place.
“Hopefully I can just go there tomorrow night and do well. I need to stay relaxed and focused and just see how the race develops.”
