Meet The Team - Gemma Spofforth
Get to know Gemma Spofforth. Read her Tweets, view images, watch her in action and being interviewed, check out Gemma in numbers and see how her Olympic rivals compare, and much more.
D.O.B.
17.11.1987
Born
Shoreham-on-Sea,
Sussex
Height
6ft 1in
Training base
Florida Gators
Coach
Gregg Troy /
Martyn Wilby
Olympic History
2008: Fourth in 100m Back, ninth in 200m Back, fourth in 4x100m Medley Relay
In Action
100m Backstroke 29 & 30 July
Did you know?
- Gemma has an autobiography set to be released after the London 2012 Olympic Games.
- She graduated from Florida University with a degree in family, youth and community sciences and will start a Masters in health and education in August 2012.
- Gemma has a sweet tooth which even extends to her dog being called Decker, after the double decker chocolate bar.
Gemma's Career
Gemma broke through on to the senior scene in 2004, winning European Short Course bronze over 200m Backstroke before booking her spot at her debut World Championships with 100m Backstroke gold at the 2005 British Champs. After switching to train and study at Florida University, Gemma competed largely on the American University circuit for the next two seasons before returning to British shores in style to book her debut Olympic spot at the 2008 British Champs. She was agonisingly close to a medal in the 100m Backstroke in Beijing, finish fourth by 0.04 seconds. But Gemma made amends the following season, breaking the 100m Backstroke world record to win World Championship gold in Rome. She added the European title to her achievements in 2010 before winning three silvers at her Commonwealth debut in Delhi later in the year. In what was to be her last race if she failed to qualify, Gemma stormed home for gold in the 100m Backstroke at the 2012 British Champs to seal her place at her second Olympic Games.
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