The new two times European Short Course Swimming Champion and British record holder
As the European Swimming Short Course Championships in Glasgow draws to an end, we can reflect on some of the amazing performances from Team GB. The British team, after winning three gold, four silver and four bronze medals, finished fifth overall in the medal table. The biggest surprise of the week – two of the three British gold medals were won by 18 years old Freya Anderson.
With her victory in the 100m Freestyle event on Friday 6th December, Anderson claimed her first ever senior international title. On the following day, she continued to create shock waves in the pool by touching the wall first after an astonishing sprint finish in the 200m Freestyle final. Her time of 1:52.77 set a new British Record and earned Freya her second senior World Championship gold medal. Both of her races are linked below.
Freya Anderson pulled off a stunning performance to beat a line-up of fierce competition, including the legendary Federica Pellegrini, who is the 2008 200m Freestyle Olympic Champion, seven times World and fourteen times European Champion, and still the current long course world record holder in the 200m Freestyle.
Anderson’s technique and tactics were brilliant in both of these events. Her smooth, long strokes allowed her to power through her races, leaving her with enough energy for a spectacularly executed sprint finish.
In 2018, Freya Anderson was shortlisted for the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award. Although she didn’t win, her talent was already being recognised.
With the Olympics around the corner, 2020 will definitely be an exciting year for women in British Swimming.
100m freestyle: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/swimming/50693902
200m freestyle: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/swimming/50700563
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/sports-personality/45908898
written by Izabella – swimming rep