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Sportsister meets Gemma Spofforth & Lizzie Simmonds

October 1, 2024

Sportsister chats to swimmers Gemma Spofforth and Lizzie Simmonds following this summer’s World Championships in Rome.

Gemma Spofforth

Were you pleased with your performances?

Ecstatic with my 100 (Gemma won gold in the 100m backstroke), still hasn’t really sunk in and I don’t think it will for a while.

I am not so happy with the two fourth places but in a backwards kind of way I am glad that I came fourth because it keeps me hungry for more.

How do you control your nerves at big events like this?

Honestly I am not really sure, all the way up to the final of the 100 I was a nervous wreck, I thought I was going to vomit and I thought I was going to choke. I kept asking people to take some butterflies out of my stomach for me!

The call room ended up being my place of comfort because four or five out of the eight girls are good friends of mine and I was so relaxed that all my butterflies flew away!

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What’s next for you?

Back to America for next year, I have one more year left (at the University of Florida) and then the Commonwealth Games next year.

What do you love most about swimming?

I gave a speech on this once and my honest answer was that I don’t always love it! But the adrenalin and close friends you make in the sport make it all worth while.

How excited are you about the 2012 games being in London?

Very, but I am not putting all my eggs in one basket. I have a grounded perspective on swimming and know that it will not be my life/ career forever so my aim for 2012 is great but I am not putting too much pressure on myself for anything.

Do you get inspired by the success of other sports/ sports stars? If so which ones?

Yes, any swimmer at any level. Especially those who swim with no real hope at reaching the top; those who love the sport and do it just because they love it. And Ryan (Lochte - part of Gemma’s training squad in Florida) is a great role model for me too both in and out of the water.

Who were you inspired by when you were growing up?

My mum

Lizzie Simmonds

How have the championships gone for you?

The Rome World Champs were a fantastic experience for me - racing against the top swimmers in the world was brilliant, and the atmosphere in Rome was something special.

Were you pleased with your performances?

I was really pleased, I made significant personal best times in both my main events, made two world finals and gained a lot of experience from the competition.

How do you control your nerves at big events like this?

I think I just try and treat it like any other competition (essentially, regardless of your competitors, its still you in your own lane, in a 50m pool, doing an event you’ve done a thousand times over!) I also try and remember that this is what all the hard work was for, and that this is the time to relax and enjoy it.

What’s next for you?

Commonwealth trials and then hopefully Commonwealth games.

What do you love most about swimming?

The thrill of competing, meeting some fantastic people and traveling the world with them!

Do you feel that the success of team GB in Beijing has boosted everyone’s confidence?

Definitely…I think the success of the team was inspiring to both the team and to other athletes all over Britain. I think it was a nationwide realisation that it’s possible for British athletes to final, it’s possible for them to medal and it’s possible for them to win at world level.

How excited are you about the 2012 games being in London?

Very excited! The atmosphere of a home crowd is second to none and to have so many people behind you and cheering for you is going to be a fantastic buzz.

Do you get inspired by the success of other sports/ sports stars? If so which ones?

I’m inspired by anyone who fulfills their dreams to make it to the top of their sport. I think there are so many sports people out there who have been presented with huge obstacles - injuries/illness/a dip in performance etc but who continue striving for the top, and eventually overcome the difficulty.

Would you like to stay involved in swimming when you retire?

I think I’d like to be involved in the media side of things. I love talking and obviously understand the technical side of the sport too.

Speedo Performance Team Range

To celebrate 13th FINA World Championships held from 17th July- 2nd August in Rome this year, Speedo launched its ‘Team Range’.

This stylish collection features Roman numeral designs depicting the new World Record times set by athletes wearing the Speedo LZR Racer suit. This is a range inspired by Olympic champions and designed for future champions.

The contemporary style of this Speedo Endurance®+ swimwear is available in distinctive colours including Pop Pink, Royal Blue and Black.

Louise Hudson, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine

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