BRITAIN CELEBRATES SUCCESSFUL WORLD CUP
Britain's swimmers competing at the Paralympic World Cup
in Manchester have proven to the world they are a force to
be reckoned with just four months out from Beijing by taking
seven gold, four silver and three bronze medals.
Heather Frederiksen (City of Salford), Natalie Jones (Colchester
Penguins) and Sam Hynd (Nova Centurion) smashed world records
on their way to winning their gold medals.
Frederiksen looked dominate throughout the women's S8 100m
Backstroke. She started well and gained the lead just before
the turn and turned well within the world record time. She
then powered through her final 50m to touch home in a time
of 1:17.41 to take both the gold medal and the world record.
"That was just awesome," Frederiksen said. "I
didn't expect to go out and get that record. Since I equalled
it a few weeks ago, my backstroke hasn't felt strong so throughout
that race I just tried to keep my stroke as long as possible
and kept calm and it all worked.
"That was a promising performance for me as I am in
the middle of hard training and I am really happy to have
broken the record. I also expect that Jessica Long (USA) will
push me all the way in Beijing."
Norway's Mariann Vestbostad took the silver medal in a time
of 1:22.07 while bronze was taken by promising American Jessica
Long in a time of 1:23.72. Brit Rachael Latham (Bolton Metro)
finished in fourth place with a time of 1:25.07.
Natalie Jones took to the water in the women's S6 200m Individual
Medley and put in a personal best performance on her way to
the world record.
The Paralympic Champion found herself behind Fuying Jiang
as they turned for the first 100m but Jones began closing
the gap in the breaststroke lap. As the race entered the final
50m Jones found the power to move into the lead and she pushed
hard to finish in the top spot.
Jones claimed the world record and the gold medal in a time
of 3:15.72.
"I honestly did not expect to claim that world record,"
Jones said. "It is just amazing to have got that time.
I just wanted to race hard and wanted to get a PB so to get
a world record on top of that is fantastic.
"Fuying Jiang was in front of me and I could see her
but I knew she doesn't have a good freestyle finish so I knew
I could take her on the last lap. I got that time in the middle
of heavy training which is both pleasing and promising for
the rest of the year."
Fellow Brit Nyree Lewis (Leominster) put in a solid performance
as she moved from third to second place in the final 50m to
take the silver medal in a time of 3:18.30.
Bronze was won by American Miranda Uhl in a time of 3:18.78.
British swimmer Liz Johnson finished in 6th place in a time
of 3:25.37.
The men's S8 400m Freestyle saw Sam Hynd racing against Paralympic
champion Xiaofu Wang (China) and the 16-year-old had to put
any nerves to one side as he tried to claim his first ever
Paralympic World Cup title.
Hynd turned for the first 100m in second place but he showed
his strength over the distance to move into the lead at the
200m mark.
The world record holder, Hynd, was never challenged by Wang
and he extended his lead to seven seconds at the 300m and
he touched home nine seconds ahead of his competitors in a
time of 4:31.33. This time not only earned Hynd his first
world title but lowered his own world record.
"That was just fantastic," Hynd said. "I never
expected to go that fast. I have been working hard in my training
and it just felt great out there today.
"It was a great performance which I am really pleased
with. I didn't expect to come here and take that record but
it is a great result for me. I am really happy to win gold
at my first World Cup event, it gives me a good standing as
I work towards Beijing."
The women's S13 100m Butterfly event saw Rhiannon Henry (Swansea
Performance) impress on her way to the gold medal.
Henry took the lead early on and looked stronger than her
closest rival Prue Watt (Australia) throughout the race. The
Brit turned within British record time at the 50m mark and
kept her lead in the final 50m as she touched home in a time
of 1:07.33.
Henry claimed both the gold medal and a new British record
with her strong swim.
"After least night's swim I didn't think I would be
able to go out an swim that fast," Henry said. "I
found that half way through my swim yesterday I just died
and couldn't keep my pace up.
"But today I just knew I had to push through it and
I kept my hips up but I didn't really know what to expect
so I am really pleased with the result."
Siilver went to Prue Watt in a time of 1:09.09 and Teigan
V roosmalen (Australia) took the bronze in 1:10.39. British
swimmer Jenny Coughlin finished in sixth place with a time
of 1:15.03.
Sascha Kindred was always the favourite for the men's SM6
200m Individual Medley and he didn't disappoint the home crowd.
Kindred went out quickly with the desire to defend his title
from last year and he turned almost a second in the lead at
the 100m mark.
As the athletes entered the breaststroke leg Kindred extended
his lead to four seconds and he touched home in a time of
2:45.00 to re-claim his title.
"That was a strong swim for me," Kindred said.
"I wanted to go quicker in front of the home-crowd but
I am happy with that result. It was an eight second pb for
Yang, so I know he is pushing me all the way in the lead up
to Beijing but I am happy to have beaten him."
The silver medal went to China's Yuanrun Yang in a time of
2:47.91, while British athlete Matt Whorwood (Newquay Cormorants)
took the bronze medal in 2:57.06.
The men's 50m Freestyle saw Dave Roberts (Swansea Performance)
prove his dominance of the event after finishing in a time
of 28.45 to take repeat last year's performance. American
Lantz Lamback took the silver in 29.44 while Brit Matthew
Walker (Marple) won the bronze in 29.56. Young British athlete
Jonathan Fox (Newquay Cormorants) finished in fourth place
in 30.54.
James Anderson (Broxburn) claimed the gold medal in the men's
S2 50m Freestyle with an excellent performance that saw him
finish in a time of 1:07.01. Silver went to Anderson's closest
international rival Georgios Kapelakis (Greece) in a time
of 1:11.22. Bronze was taken by Curtis Lovejoy (USA) in 1:13.59.
The women's S9 100m Freestyle saw three British athletes
come face to face with world famous Natalie DuToit - who has
just qualified for the Open Water event at the Olympic Games.
Stephanie Millward (Melksham) found herself in third place
behind Du Toit and Australian Annabelle Williams at the first
turn.
But it was Louise Watkin (Kelly College) who proved to have
the strongest finish of the Brits as she took the silver medal
behind Du Toit in a time of 1:06.15. Williams and Millward
took joint bronze with 1:06.63. Du Toit finished a whole five
seconds ahead of her competitors as she touched in 1:01.32.
The women's S3 50m Backstroke saw Fran Williamson try to
defend her title, she looked strong as the race began but
found the power of Germany's Annke Conradi too much for her
as she had to settle for the silver this year with a time
of 1:05.18. Conradi touched in 1:04.30 to take gold while
bronze was taken by America's Beth Kolbe in 1:19.32.
Swimming in the last event of the day Britain's Anthony Stephens
(Swansea Performance) was pushed on by the success of his
team-mates as he took the lead early on. Brazilian Daniel
Dias overtook the Brit at the 150m and extended his lead in
the final 50m to steal the gold from Stephens.
Dias touched in 2:40.14 and Stephens finished in 2:43.90.
Bronze was claimed by Spain's Sebastian Rodriguez in 2:50.20.
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