European Championships, Budapest, day 4 finals:
Women 100m backstroke
Gemma Spofforth (GBR) became the fourth world champion in the hour to confirm their status at the top of the pile (yes, of course the times were slower). In a second backstroke final to deliver 1-2 for Britain, Elizabeth Simmonds, 200m champ, this time followed Spofforth's 59.80 win with a 1:00.19 for silver, bronze going to Jenny Mensing (GER), in 1:00.72.
"This was another great day for the British team (now on 4 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze) after our double in the 200m," said the champion. "It shows that we're in great shape for the Commonwealth Games, our main aim this year." The race produced the first Brit 1-2 in the 100m back since Judy Grinham and Margaret Edwards finished top 2 in 1958. The last time Britain placed a woman on the 100m back podium in European l/c waters was 1966, when Linda Ludgrove won silver behind Christine Caron (FRA), still a leading light and part of the group that gave rise to the Paris Open.
Coached by Martyn Wilby in Florida, Spofforth was delighted to rubber-stamped her world crown with a debut European title. “It’s great to get a back-to-back but I had a lot of doubts going into it. I’m not fully rested and I wasn’t sure I had it in me. I didn’t go in quite as confident as I could have been. You’d think that being world champion and world record holder would help but it doesn’t quite work like that. I haven’t got the speed that I have when fully rested but I was please with the back-end of my race.” Spofforth came back harder that anyone else in the field, turning third as Daniela Samulski (GER) turned at the helm on 28.98 (before fading to 5th in 1:01.11). The time was not Roman but the swim had something of the guts of the 209 victory in terms of the pattern of things and the homecoming grin-and-bear-it return.
The splits:
- Spofforth 29.30 59.80 (30.50)
- Simmonds 29.27 1:00.19 (30.92)
- Mensing 29.48 1:00.72 (31.24)
Simmonds was second best on the way to the wall and was unhappy with her technique.
"I didn't race it well. My technique was off and I guess I got caught up in the emotion of it all." But on the second 1-2 finish for Britain she said: “It’s what we came here to do and take European by storm on the backstroke." Next stop, rested and ready: Delhi 2010.
History unfolding:
Effect on race on all-time top 10:
Euro podiums:
- 2010: 59.80 - 1:00.72
- 2008: 59.41 - 1:00.29
- 2006: 1:00.88 - 1:01.55
Euro finals:
- 2010: 59.80 - 1:01.79
- 2008: 59.41 - 1:01.99
- 2006: 1:00.88 - 1:03.18
- Most Euro wins: Ina Kleber (GDR); Kristin Otto (GDR); Krisztina Egerszegi (HUN); Laure Manaudou (FRA): 2 each
- Most Titles/Nation: NED, GDR, 7 each
- Tightest Podium: 2002 - gold to bronze - 0.16sec
From the archive: Seven of the first 10 titles after women joined the European Championships in 1927 went to seven separate Dutch women. Five of them held the world record too - many were either coached by Ma Braun - Marie Braun and Rie Masterbroek - or Jan Stender at some stage. Stender, known affectionately as 'The hangman of Hilversum', celebrated a unique achievement of having coached eight world records holders who all lived in the same street in Hilversum. At his induction into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1973 he said: "The glory of this sport is very transient and how many people still know these names?". We do, Jan. Those 7 Dutch back champs: Willie van der Turk; Marie Braun; Rie Masterbroek; Cor Kint; Ria van der Horst; Geertje Wielema; and Ria Van Velsen.
Records
Shiny suit era
- WR/ER: 58.12 Gemma Spofforth (GBR) Jul 2009
February 1 2008
- WR: 59.44 Natalie Coughlin (USA) Mar 2007
- ER: 59.87 Laure Manaudou (FRA) Mar 2007
