THREE GOLDS FOR BRITAIN ON FINAL DAY
Lizzie Simmonds put in a number of incredible performances
on the final day of competition to take three gold medals
in the last session of the European Junior Championships.
In the women’s 100m Backstroke, Lizzie Simmonds claimed
gold, setting a new Championship record in the women’s
100m Backstroke.
Leading from the start, Simmonds produced a great performance
to take the team’s first medal of the evening, touching
in 1:01.37.
Silver went to Christin Zenner of Germany in 1:03.35, and
Iwona Lefanowicz of Poland taking bronze in 1:03.58.
Zoe Hester also competed in the final of the women’s
200m Backstroke with a good swim to come eighth in 1:05.71.
Four events later, Simmonds took to the water for her second
final of the evening in the women’s 200m Individual
Medley.
Simmonds made a steady start, and turned first at the 100m
mark Simmonds had a two second lead over her nearest rival.
With a superb performance having already competed in one
final the sane evening, Simmonds finished in 2:14.44, just
outside British record pace with teammate Emma Smithurst finishing
in fifth with a time of 2:20.16.
She then went on to take the first leg in the women’s
4x100m Medley Relay final, where the British quartet all put
in a great swims to take the gold medal.
Simmonds took the first leg (Backstroke), with Alex Warren
(Breaststroke), Ellen Gandy (Butterfly) and Lauren Collins
(Freestyle), taking the medal ahead of the Russian team (4:10.24)
in a new Championship record of 4:09.29.
“I feel absolutely fantastic, it has been a great day
for the squad,” said Simmonds.
“I was very tired after the 100m Backstroke final and
just went all out in the 200m Individual Medley and am really
pleased to get the gold. To then go and get gold in the relay
was fantastic,”
Lauren Collins swam the final leg of the relay and was just
as happy as Simmonds.
“I feel amazing, completely over the moon. It was a
great way for us to end the competition.”
Bronze went to Sweden in a time of 4:13.21.
Britain’s men took silver in the men’s 4x100m
Medley Relay with Adam Brown swimming a fantastic final 100m
Freestyle to seal the silver medal.
Marco Loughran (Backstroke), Max Partridge (Breaststroke)
and James Doolan (Butterfly) brought the medal home for Britain
in 3:44.29.
“We’re so glad to take a medal in the relay,”
said Brown.
“Myself and Marco had already won medals in the meet
and we really want to put in great performances not only for
us, but so that Max and James came back with a medal too because
they deserved it.”
“At the end of a tough meet, tonight’s swims
prove that the British squad can still perform to the very
end,” said Partridge.
Italy took the gold medal in a new Championship time of 3:41.21,
with the Hungarian team winning the bronze medal in 3:44.43.
In the men’s 100m Breaststroke, Max Partridge finished
in 1:04.16 after qualifying from the semi-final yesterday
evening in 1:03.77.
Daniel Scott finished in ninth place in the men’s 50m
Freestyle after the semi-final in a time of 23.55
Adam Brown missed out on a place in the semi-final of the
men’s event, finishing in equal 22nd place with a time
of 23.97.
Xavier Mohammed finished 11th in the men’s 400m I.M
in 4:32.53, with Ryan Bennett taking 12th place in 1:53.92.
Winning three gold and one silver medal on the final night
of competition in Antwerp means the British squad have exceeded
their greatest medal count at an Offshore Meet, with 16 medals
(6 gold, 6 silver and 4 bronze), leaving them second in the
medal table.
British Swimming’s Director pf World Class Programme’s
John Atkinson was keen to praise all members of the team on
a job well done.
“Following the European Junior Championships in Palma
last year where the squad won 15 medals, this is the best
result ever for a British junior squad,” said Atkinson.
“Coming into this meet we knew that we had to work
hard to beat this tally, and that we would have to succeed
in the relay events. The swimmers and coaches did a fantastic
job to surpass last years’ performance.”
The relay events have been a focus for the squad, and the
team did not fail to deliver.
“We took medals from five out six relays, which is
a fantastic result, and equals the highest number of relay
medals won by a British team in this competition,” he
said.
”Lizzie (Simmonds) did a fantastic job tonight, winning
two individual medals and then leading the girls in the relay
in a quicker time than she won her own 100m Backstroke final.
“Richard Charlesworth took gold in the European Junior
Open Water Championships a few weeks ago and this is something
we have never done.
“Moving on from this the coaches will go back to their
home programmes and will work with the swimmers to enhance
their performances so they are ready for the London 2012 Olympic
Games.”
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