BRITAIN IN THE MEDALS AS WORLD RECORDS TUMBLE
On a night where the world of swimming reached new and previously
unassailable heights, and four new World Records ignited the
12th FINA World Championships, Britain added to the drama
and excitement to claim their first medal at the Rod Laver
Arena pool.
A gutsy performance by Liam Tanock in the fastest Men's 100m
Backstroke race in history saw the Loughborough University
swimmer take bronze in a new British and Commonwealth Record.
The 21-year-old gave absolutely everything as, against one
of the strongest fields of any event on Day three in Melbourne,
he touched the wall ahead of the field and under World Record
pace at the 50m point.
Tancock, a 50m Backstroke bronze medallist two years ago
in Montreal, kept his race together over the backend but Olympic
Champion Aaron Peirsol and Ryan Lochte, both from the USA,
closed Tancock down to take gold and silver respectively.
Peirsol went under 53 seconds for the first time in history
to set a new World Record of 52.98, Lochte took silver on
the touch in 53.50 with Tancock returning in 53.61.
"That medal is my best yet," said a delighted Tancock.
"It's the most prestigious of events outside of an Olympics
and means so much to me.
"To come away with a medal a year out from Beijing and
in an Olympic event is just so exciting and I lowered my own
British and Commonwealth Record again tonight.
"The Americans had an amazing night with World Records
falling all over the place and to be part of the fastest ever
swim in history is an amazing experience."
Britain have never had a 100m Backstroke medallist at a World
Championships and history is something Tancock is pleased
to have made while he looks to write new chapters over the
next 18months.
"It was the strongest field the world has ever seen
and I'm up their on the podium making history as the first
British swimmer which is something you dream about,"
said Tancock.
"No-one has ever gone sub 53seconds before and to see
that and be part of that is remarkable. It also meant so much
to me to have my mum and dad watching in the stands.
"The last 50m was very tough but I've been working hard
in training for that reason and I kept it together tonight.
I just wanted to get out there from the start but the Americans
were strong coming back."
Two years ago Tancock medalled in the non-Olympic 50m event
but to make the step up to the longer sprint with such good
effect is something he's excited about.
"There's definitely more to come from me," he explained.
"I'll add tonight's medal to the one I won in 2005 but
it's an Olympic medal I'm targeting.
"I've stepped up from the 50m event and I've been training
hard for the 100m. There's 16months left ahead of Beijing
and still a lot more hard work that needs to be done but this
medal shows we're getting there."
British Swimming came close to making it two medals in Melbourne
when Kirsty Balfour (City of Edinburgh) and Kate Haywood (Loughborough
University) went in the final of the Women's 100m Breaststroke
which saw a Championship Record fall.
Leisel Jones before a home crowd went 1:05.72 to take gold,
Tara Kirk of the U.S. took the silver in 1:06.34 while Anna
Khlistunova of the Ukraine claimed the bronze in 1:07.27.
Balfour was fifth in 1:08.05 and Haywood was seventh in 1:08.55.
"It was a strong field out there and I put in one of
my fastest ever swims but in this company it doesn't get you
a medal," said Balfour. "I'm slightly disappointed
with the time and not to be on the podium but I'm looking
to the 200m Breaststroke now which is definitely my strongest
event
"I didn't feel comfortable enough tonight and felt I
rushed it too much but I'll put that right for my main event."
The event was swam before a raucous crowd with four World
Records as the catalyst and Australian golden girl Leisel
Jones as the epicentre of their energy.
"It was deafening out there with the Aussie crowd all
cheering for Leisel (Jones)," said Haywood. "The
noise was humbling when they called her name and you just
can't measure the advantage a home crowd like that can give.
"To be honest, after the work I've missed through illness
I'm happy with my performance. I was delighted, considering,
to just make the final but to climb further up the rankings
and to swim one of my fastest ever times shows there's more
to come."
History was also made in the semi-finals of the Women's 200m
Freestyle where the depth of the field demanded the fastest
seven progressing to tomorrow's final all went quicker than
the time it would have taken to win gold at the last World
Championships.
And Britain's Caitlin McClatchey (Loughborough) proved she
was up to the task required with a strong swim to progress
but team mate Mel Marshall, in the next lane over, slipped
off the pace, despite a strong heat swim earlier in the day,
and missed out.
McClatchey goes into tomorrow's final seventh fastest in
1:57.86 while Marshall's time of 1:59.14 saw her finish 11th
overall. However, McClatchey will face new World Record holder
Frederica Pellegrini who went 1:56.47 in her semi-final to
set the new standard.
"I knew what I had to do to make the final but I didn't
realise it was going to be as fast as that," explained
McClatchey. "It was always going to take a fast time
but nearly every swimmer who qualified tonight did so in a
time that would have won gold two years ago and that just
shows how far the world has moved on.
"To be honest it helped me seeing Liam (Tancock) win
a medal just moments before my race and that performance was
in my mind over those last lengths as I aimed for the wall.
"It's going to take something special to medal with
such a high-class field showing such great form but I'll relax
tonight, take things easy tomorrow and make sure I'm at my
best for the final."
In the Men's 50m Breaststroke former World Champion James
Gibson (Marseille) was unable to progress from the semi-finals
when he finished 11th overall in 28.21. Earlier in the heats
team mate Darren Mew (University of Bath) finished 20th in
a time of 28.43.
|
