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Loughborough’s Tancock on top of the world

Posted on 27/12/2008

Loughborough University Website

Loughborough’s Tancock on top of the world

Loughborough student Liam Tancock became Britain’s first World Record holder since 2002 with a powerful performance in the 50m Backstroke at the British Swimming Championships in Sheffield.

Tancock’s effort was the highlight of a series of top displays from Loughborough University’s swimmers as Ross Davenport and Kate Haywood became the latest athletes to secure qualification times for the Beijing Olympics.

With his Olympic ticket already guaranteed, Tancock targeted a new world time in the first leg of last night’s 200m Backstroke and successfully added his name to an elite list of British athletes to become fastest in the world.

The 22-year-old touched the wall at 50m in a time of 24.47 seconds, breaking the current record by almost half a second.

“I haven’t swam the 50m properly since Japan where I tried to break the world record last summer but I definitely achieved that this time and it feels great,” said Tancock. “I know it is not in the Olympic programme but it gives me a lot of confidence to get that record. It gets the place buzzing and it just feels amazing to swim that fast.”

Loughborough team mate James Goddard, who set back to back Commonwealth Records in the 200m Individual Medley this week, this morning added the 200m Backstroke to his Beijing event list. In a fast race that saw Scottish rival Gregor Tait set a new Commonwealth Record (1:56.67), Goddard swam a lifetime best of 1:56.82 for British silver.

And on the back of a record-breaking swim last night, the University’s Kate Haywood secured a qualification time in the 100m Breaststroke. Her time of 1:07.84 was just outside her new British best (1:07.56), but was enough to earn her the British crown.

“That’s not as fast as last night but it’s still one of the fastest races I’ve ever swum,” she said.

“It was brilliant last week to get the European gold and the record. I knew I was in good shape and with Gemma Spofforth who trained with us at Loughborough before the Trials getting the British Record yesterday it looks great for the Medley Relay.”

Four University swimmers made history this morning in the first British 200m Freestyle final ever to see all athletes go below one minute 50 seconds. Ross Davenport, David Carry, Daniel Coombs and Dean Milwain all posted fast times to dip below the magic marker.

Davenport took his first ever 200m British title in 1:47.66, whilst training partner Carry was edged out of Olympic consideration in the individual event by Scottish team mate Robbie Renwick. Carry, who has already qualified in his main 400m Freestyle event, is likely to be part of the squad for the 4x200m relay.

Davenport was delighted with his performance, which secures him Olympic selection, and is also looking forward to the prospect of being part of a fast 4x200m relay team.

“I’m over the moon,” he said. “I have a horrible statistic that I’ve never won the 200m at the British Championships. I’m a Commonwealth Champion, I’ve been 4th in the world, but I’ve never managed the British Championships. I’ve finally done it and that’s a big weight off my mind.

“There’s a real strength in depth in the 200m Free at the moment. British Swimming have put a lot of effort into this event and it’s clearly showing.”

Carry, who hopes to join Davenport as part of Britain’s relay, is excited about the strength of swimmers in the event.

“My main priority is the 400m Freestyle and after that the 4x200m,” he explained. “Having guys of this calibre in the team is really exciting. Three years ago I made aim to come back from an Olympics with a medal and on the back of the performances this week that could happen this year.”

Loughborough trio Amy Smith, Claudia Coleman and Aimee Ramm were all in action in this morning’s 50m Freestyle final. Smith was just out of medal contention for fourth in 26.10 seconds, while Coleman and Ramm swam lifetime bests to finish 6th and 7th in 26.48 and 26.62 respectively.

And with so many athletes at the top of their game, a further four University Records have fallen; to Tancock (50m Backstroke), Haywood (100m Breaststroke), Goddard (200m Backstroke) and Davenport (200m Freestyle). Scott Hathaway was also within the previous 200m Backstroke record with a lifetime best swim of 2:02.01 in last night’s heats. He went on to finish 6th in the final in 2:03.42.

Pre-selected Loughborough swimmers: Liam Tancock, 100m Backstroke, added 200m Individual Medley at Trials David Davies (Loughborough-based), 1500m Freestyle

Loughborough University swimmers within Olympic qualification times (British Swimming to confirm squad on Sunday 6 April): David Carry (Loughborough-based), 400m Freestyle, 4x200m Freestyle Dean Milwain, 400m Freestyle, 4x200m Freestyle Caitlin McClatchey, 100m Freestyle Julia Becket, 4x100m Freestyle James Goddard, 200m Individual Medley, 200m Backstroke Ross Davenport, 200m Freestyle Gemma Spofforth (Florida University, made final Trial preparations at Loughborough), 100m Backstroke