TANCOCK LEADS BRITS INTO A NEW AND EXCITING ERA
British swimmer Liam Tancock took out a national record and
equalled the European standard on his way to winning gold
in the Men's 100m Backstroke on day two of the Japan International
in Chiba
And a brand new and inexperienced British quartet almost
stole the show in the Women's 4x200m Freestyle against favourites
Australia to suggest a new era for British Swimming is just
around the corner.
Tancock (Loughborough University) blasted off the wall and
a strong start saw him turn under World Record pace at 25.67.
Unaware of the strong opposition, Tancock remained unfazed
and kept his stroke to take the gold in 53.46 to better his
own British Record of 53.61.
It was a time that also equalled German Helge Meeuw's European
Record and is a poignant marker for the former 50m sprint
specialist.
Randall Bal of the U.S. took the silver in 53.91 and Japan's
Tomomi Morita, with a large home crowd behind him, grabbed
the bronze in 54.13.
"I'm really pleased with that swim, it was hard but
it gives me great motivation for the next 12 months as we
head towards the Beijing Olympics," said Tancock.
"I felt I had that swim in me. I swam strongly at last
month's national championships and this morning felt good
although it threw up one or two points I knew I had to work
on.
"I looked at my start and turns, put them right and
the result was a gold medal and a new best time, a British
Record and an equal European Record."
Tancock's season has been long but rewarding following two
bronze medals at this year's World Championships in Melbourne
but he's ended as he began - showing constant improvements
in the longer distance.
"This whole experience, a training camp and competition
in Asia at this time of year, is ideal preparation for next
year's Olympics," said Tancock.
"I've had a great year and this is the perfect way to
take a short break before the hard work ahead of Beijing begins.
"The 100m event is my focus as it's on the Olympic programme
and I'm bringing down my time as we get closer. It's a real
confidence boost to know you're making progress and I'll be
focusing everything I have over the next 11 months."
The British squad had very little expectations for an untried
4x200m Freestyle quartet but cheered the very young team to
a superb silver medal as they chased the Australians all of
the way to the wall.
Caitlin McClatchey (Loughborough University) got the girls
off to a strong start in 1:58.62 before handing over the race
to Julia Beckett (Loughborough University) who kept in touch
with leaders Australia in 2:00.84.
Ellen Gandy (Beckenham) in her debut relay outing put in
one of the most impressive British performances so far in
Japan to close up to Australia in 1:59.91. Hannah Miley (Garioch)
continued her impressive summer with a powerful anchor leg
in 1:59.27 as Britain gained on the eventual winners.
Australia touched in 7:57.03 with Britain picking up pace
throughout to take silver in 7:58.64. China took the bronze
in 7:59.64.
"That was a great swim, a new team, two very young girls
and yet it looked like we'd been together for ages,"
said Beckett. "It was a real gutsy performance, especially
from Ellen and Hannah as it was their first senior relay,
and standing with them on the podium was an honour.
"It's an exciting time with such fresh faces coming
into the squad. It lifts all of us, provides valuable competition
for places and I'm sure it will push forward the event in
Britain because there's just so much talent coming through."
Tancock's victory and the strong relay performance left British
Swimming National Performance Director Bill Sweetenham delighted
with what he has seen over the first two days.
"How good was that? Once again it signifies the new
era that's fast approaching within British Swimming,"
said Sweetenham.
"With only two days gone we've already seen sensational
performances and coupled with a great preparation in Osaka
it looks good for Beijing and even better for London in 2012.
"Tonight we saw three girls in Gandy, Miley and Beckett
who have never before been on an international podium with
a medal around their necks. At a major international and against
such strong opposition they stood up, gave it their all and
as a new quartet were just a second off the British Record."
Sweetenham feels British Swimming is going through a period
of transition with a new generation of talent ready to support
a senior team that looks on course to fulfil their potential.
"This meet is showing us the next wave is nearly here,"
he added. "The girls tonight and the likes of Kris Gilchrist
(City of Edinburgh), who is going to swim in his first international
relay on Friday, suggest it's right around the corner.
"The coaches have done a fantastic job. Bud McAllister
(Swansea Performance) and Ben Titley (Loughborough University)
have got the swimmers up and the majority are doing exactly
what has been asked of them.
"Titley's work with the relay tonight was great and
he also did a sensational job of coaching Tancock to a memorable
win in the men's backstroke.
"The athletes are having a tremendous meet and I know
there's much more to come. It's been a valuable learning opportunity
for them in Asia just a year out from the Beijing Olympics
and I expect them to continue to impress over the next two
days."
Lizzie Simmonds (Lincoln Vulcans) was just off her best time
when she finished sixth in the Women's 100m Backstroke final.
Simmonds went 1:01.47 with gold going to Kirsty Coventry of
Zimbabwe in 59.85.
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