Sophie Smith has capped another successful performance at the European Junior Swimming Championships in Helsinki with her second gold medal and the fifth for the British Team.
Smith won her first gold in the 400m Individual Medley and secured her Medley double with an impressive swim in the 200m Individual Medley today.
Smith claimed the gold medal in a time of 2:14.48 and after her race commented, “I’ve loved the whole experience. I’ve swum well and enjoyed being part of the team.”
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Karley Mann added to her 200m Backstroke title with bronze in the 100m Backstroke. She had an excellent back end to the race as she came back from ninth place to third.
Mann touched in a time of 1:02.99 to win her bronze and secure her second medal of the competition. Phoebe Lenderyou finished in ninth place with a time of 1:04.02.
In the penultimate race of the competition Mann lined up alongside Sara Lougher, Rachael Kelly and Emma Saunders in the girls’ 4×100m Medley relay and swam to silver.
The team touched in a time of 4:09.48 to win silver behind the German team. After the race Mann commented, “This has been the best week of my life.”
Lougher added, “I’ve raced a lot and have done well and have really enjoyed it.”
Multi-medallist Emma Saunders took the anchor leg for the team and said, “I’ve raced 13 times but I hadn’t realised I had. Wow, it’s been amazing - marvellous. Every day has had its challenges but with all the support we’ve had we’ve all come through it wiser and better equipped for the next challenge at this level.”
Gold medallist Kelly echoed this statement, “It’s been a lot of fun and I’ve learnt a lot which should help me next time I’m in a meet like this.”
Siobhan-Marie O’Connor and Rachael Kelly finished in sixth place in the 200m Individual Medley and the 50m Butterfly respectively. O’Connor touched in 2:19.11 and Kelly finished in 28.00
Poppy Bending Beckett, Sportsister,
The Women’s Sports Magazine
