Spofforth wins world title and breaks world record

From James Toney, Sportsbeat, in Rome

GEMMA Spofforth went west to find a new frontier in her swimming and has been duly rewarded with gold - and a world record.

RELIEF: Gemma Spofforth can't believe it after seeing she'd won gold at the Foro Italico

The British swimmer won the 100m backstroke title at the World Swimming Championships in a time of 58.12 seconds - almost a second quicker than her personal best before she arrived in Rome.

Russia's Anastasia Zueva, who had rewritten Kirsty Coventry's world record in the semi-finals, was just fractions behind while Australia's Emily Seebohm completed the podium with bronze.

Spofforth’s biography claims the person she would most like to meet is the Queen, and she may soon get her invite to the Palace after becoming the first British world champion since Katy Sexton’s 200m backstroke win six years ago. 

For someone still only 21, Spofforth - who finished fourth at last year's Olympics - has already overcome so much.

Her mother Lesley, a Cambridge Blue swimmer, was diagnosed with cancer in August 2006 and died just over one year later.

And her promising junior career was almost stalled four years ago after she was sidelined for 12 months with pancreatitis.

But she has blossomed in the competitive swim programme at the University of Florida, taking inspiration from team-mates such as three-time Olympic champion Ryan Lochte.

“I was not expecting to go that fast,” said Spofforth.

“After I came fourth at the Beijing Olympics last year and I made a vow to never miss out on a medal again.

"I went out faster than I did in the semifinal. I had to because I knew how fast Anastasia could swim. She was right on my shoulder in the last 15 metres, but I wanted it so much."

And Spofforth's victory was all the more impressive when you consider her decision not to wear one of the new-age swim suits, which have cast such a shadow over these championships.