Shortman and Thorpe perform career-best Free Duet on World debut

July 18, 2017

Kate Shortman and Isabelle Thorpe put in the best performance of their young careers to finish 16th in the Duet Free at the 2017 World Championships.

Shortman, 15, and Thorpe, 16, sailed past the 80-point marker for the first time in Budapest, receiving 82.5667 for their routine.

While only the top 12 progressed from the prelims, the English pair emerged with their heads held high after an eyecatching World Championship debut.

English teenagers continue steady improvement

The City of Bristol pair have shown steady improvement this season for their free routine to the music of Beethoven.

After scoring 77.6000 to win the national title in April, the Brits improved to 79.5667 to finish 10th at last month’s European Junior Championships.

But they blew that score out the water with their performance in Budapest, coming just 24 hours after Shortman secured a spot in the Free Solo final.

As well as a new personal best, the score also underlines significant progress for the British senior duet, improving on Katie Clark and Olivia Federici’s score of 79.9667 on the way to 17th place at last year’s Olympic Games in Rio.

Shortman returns to the pool for the Free Solo final on Wednesday.