Liam Tancock confirms his spot in Britain’s Swimming Team for the 2011 Shanghai World Championships
Liam Tancock, with his gruelling victory in the 100m backstroke event at 2011 British Gas Swimming Championship, confirmed his participation in the 2011 Shanghai World Championships on behalf of the British swimming team. The championship is being held at
Manchester Aquatics Centre from, March 5-12.
The 50m back-stroke world champion touched the finishing wall in 53.44 seconds to confirm his victory in the 100m back-stroke category. He was comfortably ahead of second finisher, Chris Walker-Hebborn, who came in 55.41 seconds followed by Ryan Bennett
in 55.92 seconds.
Tancock was powerful from the starting of the race and was prominently ahead of his fellow swimmers in the first 15 metres of the race. With the help of his strengthened start, powerful turn and speedy kicks, he finished the last 50m of the race in just
25.87 seconds.
He won a silver medal in the 50m back-stroke behind Camille Lacourt at the 2010 European Championships due to a bad finishing style. Since then, he has been training under Coach Bentley, at Loughborough University.
Tancock said, “I never look at times and limit myself in that way. I have only got myself to beat and was just practising starts and turns. I was backing off a little bit. I did a good time and I’m really pleased. It’s a marker for myself - you just want
to see where you can go and I want those people [others in the race] chomping at my feet and having a go.”
The British swimmer is very happy after a comfortable victory in the early season of the year, as this win has booked his spot for the biggest event of the year at Shanghai, in July. His timing has improved considerably and he seems pretty confident of competing
against the best swimmers in Britain and throughout the world.
Selectors are not choosing the shortest distance winners for the British swimming team to China. So, Tancock was bound to win the 100m back-stroke in order to defend his 50m back-stroke title at the 2011 World Championships. While responding to a similar
question, he uttered that this does not bother him, as he is still the fastest 50m back-stroke swimmer on earth.
Furthermore, he expressed his desire for earning a gold medal at 2012 London Olympics in the 50m back-stroke and 100m back-stroke events. With the retirement of former Olympic back-stroke champion and world record holder, Aaron Peirsol this year, chances
of a fierce battle between Tancock and Ryan Lochte for gold medal has increased. These two will face each other at the World Championships and then at next year’s Olympics.
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