Gemma Spofforth came to the British Gas Championships in Manchester this week seeking “redemption” for the loss of her national 100 metres backstroke crown last year and a ticket to Shanghai in July to defend her world title.
Her mission completed with a victory over the defending champion, Elizabeth Simmonds, in 1min 0.52sec, the 23-year-old is set for a critical audience at the United States Embassy next Monday. Beyond another battle with Simmonds, over 200 metres, on Friday, Spofforth’s next target is the green card that would allow her to return to her beloved Florida, home of the Gators team, and the Alachua County Crisis Centre, where she serves as a volunteer for a nightwatch suicide hotline.
On an evening in which Keri-Anne Payne, the Olympic 10km open water silver medal-winner in 2008, cracked the British 1,500 metres freestyle record in 16min 6.67sec, Spofforth’s tussle with Simmonds reflected the see-saw nature of their rivalry as European champions who confined one another to silver over 100 metres and 200 metres respectively in Budapest last summer.
Simmonds got the better start and held the lead into the halfway turn by 0.12sec in 29.83sec. Spofforth surged out of her turn to draw level before taking the lead 20 metres from the finish, her time keeping Simmonds at bay by 0.64sec. The bronze medal went to Rachel Lefley in 1:02.02.
Simmonds fell shy of the tougher target time set for those seeking second places in the squad and must wait until the ASA National Championships in June to know if she will race the 100 metres in China in July. Her earlier chance rests in the 200 metres on Friday.
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Asked how much her defeat by Simmonds last year had driven her this year, Spofforth said: “It was very important, something I’ve thought about quite a lot. It was redemption for last year.”
It followed a period during which she trained in Australia and in the same pool as Simmonds in Loughborough, though not alongside her, the guest and the host kept apart.
“She trains more for 200 metres and I train for the 100 metres more. It was nice to be around her in the same pool, have fun and go to dinner a couple of times but . . . we keep our sport separate to our friendship.” Spofforth said.
In contrast, Payne trains every day with her rival and friend, Cassie Patten, who shared the Beijing podium with her three years ago, winning bronze in the 10km event.
Payne claimed the title inside the 16min 14.70sec record set by Rebecca Cooke in 2003, but success did not come with a ticket to Shanghai.
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Payne, though, could have her wish granted to race the 1,500 metres in Shanghai: if she makes the grade over 800 metres on Friday, she could swim a second event in Shanghai, while she must finish in the top six in the 800 metres this week to get to a marathon selection event in Israel next month.
Payne said: “It would be amazing if I could swim the 1,500 metres [in Shanghai]. I have the 800 to come and that’s the first step to making the marathon.”
Liam Tancock, the world 50 metres backstroke champion, and Ross Davenport booked tickets to Shanghai with respective victories in the 100 metres backstroke and the 200 metres freestyle.
What to watch out for
Women’s 200 metres freestyle The most fiercely fought final of the week, with Rebecca Adlington, the defending champion, at the helm of eight women vying for places on a 4 x 200 metres quartet at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
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Men’s 200 metres butterfly Michael Rock made headlines in 2009 when he beat a below-par Michael Phelps in the same Manchester championship pool. Graduation behind him, Rock is a full-time swimmer until London 2012.
Women’s 200 metres butterfly semi-final Ellen Gandy, the winner of the 100 metres butterfly, set the fastest time in the world this year in Australia.
Words by Craig Lord