Spofforth must break new ground to take 100m backstroke gold

Posted: Monday 27th July 2009 | 19:52

GREAT Britain's Gemma Spofforth will need to swim the race of her life to land the 100m backstroke title at the World Swimming Championships.

ALL TO DO: Gemma Spofforth is only too aware she must swim out of her skin to take 100m backstroke victory

Spofforth shattered her personal best in the heats, setting a championship record in a time that was just one hundredth of a second shy of Kirsty Coventry's world record.

But Russia's Anastasia Zueva found a new level in the semi-finals, carving nearly three tenths off Coventry's mark to qualify in a scorching 58.48 seconds.

Spofforth followed her in the next semi-final and improved on her morning swim, touching home in 58.74 sec - the second fastest time in history.

“I was really pleased with how I have swam and it all bodes well going into the final,” she added.

“I think the world record going and the fact that I am going into the final as the second quickest takes the pressure off me a little bit.

“Going in second rather than first is definitely a positive for me and I hope I can go a little bit faster in the final – hopefully that will be enough.”

But she is only too aware she will be up against it may now be regretting her decision not to wear one of the new age swim suits which have been credited with the succession of the world records to fall in Rome.

“I never thought about changing suites at all – the Speedo LZR is the one for me,” said Spofforth.

“I think the compression in my legs is what I need at the back of the race and the other ones are not quite the same.

“I honestly think it is not the suit that wins medals it is the swimmer in it.

“If you have done the work then you can do it in any suit.”

Meanwhile, Liam Tancock edged into the men's 100m backstroke final at the expense of the world record holder Aaron Peirsol.

Tancock beat his own national record in the heats and was just outside it in the semi-finals as he progressed as the eighth fastest qualifier in 53.12 seconds.

Peirsol - who set a new world best at the US Championships just over two weeks ago - was ninth quickest and will now watch from the pooldeck.

But Tancock - a double bronze medallist in Melbourne two years ago - believes his absence will make little difference to his preparations.

"Obviously Aaron Peirsol didn't step up to the game but these are the World Championships and everyone in the semi-final is going to be quick," he said.

"He's the only guy in the world to go under 52 seconds but it doesn't mean much if he's not going to be there when it matters.

"Some of the big guys seemed to be missing out and we are going to have to see what happens in the final - I'm just going to get in there and give it my best shot."

Japan's Junya Koga set a championship record 52.39 sec to advance as quickest qualifier but there are host of names who are also impressing, including team-mate Ryosuke Irie, Germany's Helge Meeuw and Spain's Aschwin Wildeboer.

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