Becky Redfern sets world record at British Summer Champs

Para-swimmer Becky Redfern starred on day three of the 2016 British Summer Championships with a 100m Breaststroke world record.

The 16-year old became the first swimmer in the SB13 visual impairment class to break 1:16 as she clocked 1:15.96 to win gold in the MC final.

The Worcester swimmer has held the record once before – her previous PB of 1:16.86 from April’s British Para-Swimming Championships was a world record as she qualified for her first Paralympics this summer.

But Germany’s Elena Krawzow – Paralympic silver medallist in this event from London 2012 – lowered it again in June with a 1:16.23 time at the IDM Berlin.

Krawzow also denied Redfern the title on her international debut at this year’s IPC European Championships in Funchal, Portugal.

The German, who also won world gold in 2013, touched just 0.02 ahead of the English swimmer on 1:17.44 in Portugal in May.

And with both swimmers now having lowered the world record since, the renewal of their rivalry could be one of the clashes of Rio 2016.

Firth lowers British record for silver behind Redfern

Bethany Firth was unlucky not to win gold at the British Summer Champs, as she came home in an SB14 British record for silver.

The 20-year old clocked 1:13.88 in the MC final, knocking 0.11 off her old British marker from April’s British Para-Swimming Championships.

While Firth is favourite to pick up S14 200m Freestyle gold in Rio this summer, she could also be in the running for a 100m Breast medal.

The Irish-born swimmer sits second in this year’s world rankings, behind Spain’s defending Paralympic champion and world record holder Michelle Alonso Morales.

Swansea Aquatics’ Aaron Moores wasn’t far from breaking the men’s SB14 100m Breast British record as he won gold in the men’s MC final.

The English swimmer came home in 1:06.52 – just 0.19 shy of his time from the Paralympic trials which remains at the top of this year’s world rankings.

  • Click here to view results from the 2016 British Summer Championships in Sheffield.
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