European Championships, Budapest, Day 2 finals
Women's 200m backstroke
Britain's Elizabeth Simmonds scorched her way to a debut international senior crown in some style, with teammate Gemma Spofforth, world 100m champion, delivering the first Brit 1-2 among women at the European long-course showcase since 1958.
Simmonds, a 19-year-old tipped for success when chosen for Britain's Smart Track squad when 13, roared ahead of the field on 30.00 at the first turn and 0.53sec up on next best. On 1:01.86 at half-way she had a lead of more than a body length. At the last turn, 1:34.35 shouted from the scoreboard, the Brit and 2010 world ranks leader in a pool apart. On the way home, Simmonds held a strong lead, though teammate Gemma Spofforth, world 100m champion last year, started to claw back some of the deficit.
Simmonds's last 10 or so faltering strokes hinted at the fatigue setting in courtesy of that fast early pace but she had done enough by a long way: the crown was in her grasp in 2:07.04. Simmonds now boasts the fastest five performances over 200m in the world this year, her courage to “just get in there and go for it from go” delivering gold. "I’ve rested a little bit for this competition but everything’s geared to Commonwealths and you’re going to feel that in the legs on the way home at this stage,” said the champion.
By the time Simmonds was suffering, Spofforth had clawed back some of the deficit and powered home 0.68sec faster than her teammate down the last length to take silver in 2:08.25, Spain’s Marce Da Rocha taking bronze in 2:10.46.
Asked about what a debut senior international crown meant to her, Simmonds said: "It’s absolutely fantastic. I know its not Olympics or worlds, its Europeans but it confirms that everything is going well and I’m just really excited about the future. This is a stepping stone and today tells me I know I can cope with the pressure. That's my first major medal and I'm thrilled. That was a big swim for me in a major final and I'm so happy. On that last length I was just waiting for Gemma to attack and gave it everything to keep her off. We have a great rivalry and I've watched Gemma achieve so much but it was my turn tonight."
Spofforth, world champion and record holder over 100 last summer, was smiling once more. "It’s incredibly special get a Brit 1-2. It sucks a little bit to get beaten by Lizzie ... I didn’t get my pace right and maybe I should have taken it out a little bit faster. I’m still learning to swim the 200m “ and I'm here to get some competition practice." The last time Britain placed two women in gold and silver places in the same race at European long-course championships was 1958, when 1956 Olympic champion Judy Grinham pipped teammate Margaret Edwards.
Coached by Ben Titley at Loughborough (a coach who cut a dubious dash while dancing with a shapely young lady from arena and singing 'Lady in Red' over coffee just before heats this morning), Simmonds said: "This year is going very well so far. If I can swim 2:07 now, I'll certainly improve my lifetime best of 2:06.79 at Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October. My goals? to get faster and faster!" Simmonds raced with only a partial rest from training. So did Spofforth, who said: "I'm focussing on Commonwealth Games but I'm really pleased with my time. I'm here to get some competition practice."
The last time Britain tapered with a full team for European titles was back in 1999, the continental event having played second-fiddle to Commonwealth Games ever since Germany and LEN moved their 2002 dates to suit TV and dictated that British swimmers could not compete for the first time in history, the dates for the Manchester Commonwealth Games having long been in place before the Euro shift.
History unfolding:
Effect on race on all-time top 10: 0
Euro podiums:
- 2010: 2:07.04 - 2:10.46
- 2008: 2:07.99 - 2:09.90
- 2006: 2:10.07 - 2:12.17
Euro finals:
- 2010: 2:07.04 - 2:14.01
- 2008: 2:07.99 - 2:14.84
- 2006: 2:10.07 - 2:16.77
- Most Euro wins: Cornelia Sirch (GDR); Krisztina Egerszegi (HUN), 3
- Most Titles/Nation: GDR, 7
- Tightest Podium: 1997 - gold to bronze - 0.6sec
From the archive: Magyar women stole the show in the race pool at the 1952 Olympics. Among the golden successes was Eva Szekely, champion in the 200m breaststroke using butterfly arms and 2.7sec up on teammate Eva Novak in second. Szekely - the first woman ever to hold the 400m medley world record, in 1953 as medley arrived with the birth of butterfly - married Dezso Gyarmati, winner of medals at five Olympic Games and one of the all-time greats of water polo. His tally included gold in 1952, 1956 and 1964, a silver in 1948 and bronze in 1960. Their daughter Andrea grew up to be 1970 European champion over 200m backstroke, broke the world record over 100m butterfly in the heats at the 1972 Olympic Games on her way to bronze in the final, claimed silver over 100m backstroke at the same Games and a year later took bronze over 200m backstroke at the inaugural World Championships.
Records
Shiny suit era
- WR: 2:04.81 Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) Jul 2009
- ER: 2:04.94 Anastasia Zueva (RUS) Jul 2009
February 1 2008
- WR/ER: 2:06.62 Krisztina Egerszegi (HUN) Aug 1991
