Gemma Spofforth

Gemma Spofforth
Personal information
Full name Gemma Mary Spofforth
Nationality  United Kingdom
Born 17 November 1987 (1987-11-17) (age 24)
Shoreham-by-Sea, England, United Kingdom
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 73 kg (160 lb)
Sport
Sport Swimming
Stroke(s) Backstroke
Club Portsmouth Northsea
College team University of Florida

Gemma Mary Spofforth (born 17 November 1987) is an English swimmer who is a world champion and record-holder in the backstroke.

Spofforth was born in Shoreham-by-Sea, England.[1] She overcame pancreatitis in 2005, taking a year in and out of the water undecided on future plans to continue swimming. This was a turning point in her career as she finished up at Portsmouth High School. Her decision on where to attend university rested on whether she would continue swimming.

Spofforth represented Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics coming fourth in the 100-metre and ninth in the 200-metre backstroke swimming events.

At the 2009 World Aquatic Championships in Rome, she took the gold medal in the 100-metre backstroke, in a world record time of 58.12 seconds.[2] Spofforth broke the 100-metre Backstroke world record on her way to winning her first world title in Rome, her time of 58.12 erased previous record holder Anastasia Zuyeva time of 58.48 set in the semi finals of the event.[3]

Spofforth accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where she swam for coach Gregg Troy's Florida Gators swimming and diving team in National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) competition from 2007 to 2010. She was a five-time NCAA champion, eleven-time All-American, four-time All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection, two-time SEC champion and two-time SEC record holder.

Contents

Personal bests and records held

Event Long course Short course
50 m backstroke 27.92 NR 28.63
100 m backstroke 58.12 WR 1.00.45
200 m backstroke 2:07.56 2.07.64
Key CR:Commonwealth NR:British

See also

Biography portal
Olympics portal
Swimming portal

References

  1. ^ British Swimming, Profile, Gemma Spofforth. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  2. ^ "13th FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - Women's 100m Backstroke Result". Omega Timing. 2009-07-28. http://www.omegatiming.com/swimming/racearchives/2009/Roma2009/C73A1_Res1Heat_109_Finals_1_Women_100_Back.pdf. Retrieved 2009-07-29. 
  3. ^ "Spofforth sets record to win gold". BBC Sport. 2009-07-28. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/swimming/8173354.stm. Retrieved 2009-07-28. 

External links

Records
Preceded by
Anastasia Zuyeva		 Women's 100 metre backstroke
world record holder (long course)
July 28, 2009		 Succeeded by
Incumbent