Simmonds storms to European record
17th December 2011
Elizabeth Simmonds secured the stand out performance for the British Gas GBR Swimming Team on the first day of USA v Europe Duel in the Pool in Atlanta with a European record in the 200m Backstroke.
The British Gas ITC Loughborough swimmer took on world champion Missy Franklin in the straight final and Simmonds didn’t let the American out of her sight throughout the race.
Franklin took the victory in a time of 2:00.14 and pulled Simmonds through to a new European record time of 2:00.83.
Gemma Spofforth finished in eighth place in a time of 2:07.89.
Simmonds’ club-mate Fran Halsall also impressed as the European All-Star team took first and second in the 100m Freestyle.
Halsall secured the time of 51.95 just behind Ranomi Kromowidjojo (Netherlands) who touched in 51.87.
The Brit then went into the 100m Butterfly and just missed securing points for the European All-Stars when she finished fourth in a time of 57.29.
Adam Brown went into the 100m Freestyle against some of the world’s best sprinters and secured fifth place with a time of 47.55.
City of Glasgow swimmer Robbie Renwick put in a good performance in the 400m Freestyle and he reached for the wall in a time of 3:45.17.
Marco Loughran finished in seventh place in the 200m Backstroke with a time of 1:56.14.
