Liam Tancock to participate in 100m back-stroke event at the 2011 Shanghai World Championships
Britain’s Liam Tancock, who won the gold medal of 100m back-stroke with his scintillating victory at the 2011 British Gas Swimming Championships earlier this March, confirmed his spot in the British swimming team to contest at the 2011 Shanghai World Championships,
in July.
The championship took place at the Manchester Aquatics Centre from March 5-12.
The 50m back-stroke world champion, Tancock, touched the home 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 finished in a time of 55.41 seconds and was
followed by Ryan Bennett, who posted a time of 55.92 seconds.
The gold medallist was powerful from the starting blocks, as he 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, Tancock completed his first lap in 25.87
seconds, whereas, he finished the last 50 metres of the race, in just 27.57 seconds.
Tancock is the gold medallist of the 50m back-stroke at the 2009 Rome World Championships. He also won two gold medals in the events of 50m back-stroke and the 100m back-stroke at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games. In addition, he won a silver medal in 50m
backstroke behind Camille Lacourt at the 2010 European Championships due to a bad finishing style.
The British swimmer has been training under the guidance of Coach Bentley at Loughborough University to improve his style. 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.”
Tancock was very happy after a comfortable victory in the early season of 2011, as this win has booked his spot for the biggest event of the year in Shanghai, in July. His timing has improved considerably and he seems pretty confident in competing against
the best swimmers in Britain and throughout the world
The selectors are not choosing shortest distance winners for British swimming team to vie in China. Therefore, 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 the selection committee’s decision did not bother him and he believes that he is still the fastest 50m back-stroke swimmer on earth.
Furthermore, he expressed his desire for earning a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics in events of the 50m and 100m back-stroke, respectively. With the retirement of former Olympic backstroke champion and world record holder, Aaron Peirsol this year,
chances of a fierce battle between Tancock and Ryan Lochte for gold medal has increased.
After Peirsol, Tancock is the most favourite swimmer to hold the title of the back-stroke events. The two athletes will face each other at the upcoming major international meets of the World Championships and next year’s Olympics.
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