Gemma Spofforth
Encyclopedia
Gemma Mary Spofforth is an English swimmer
who is a world champion and record-holder in the backstroke
.
Spofforth was born in Shoreham-by-Sea
, England
. She overcame pancreatitis
in 2005, taking a year in and out of the water undecided on future plans to continue swimming. This was a turning point in her career as she finished up at Portsmouth High School. Her decision on where to attend university rested on whether she would continue swimming.
Spofforth represented Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics
coming fourth in the 100-metre and ninth in the 200-metre backstroke swimming events.
At the 2009 World Aquatic Championships in Rome, she took the gold medal in the 100-metre backstroke, in a world record time of 58.12 seconds. Spofforth broke the 100-metre Backstroke world record on her way to winning her first world title in Rome, her time of 58.12 erased previous record holder Anastasia Zuyeva time of 58.48 set in the semi finals of the event.
Spofforth accepted an athletic scholarship
to attend the University of Florida
in Gainesville, Florida
, where she swam for coach Gregg Troy
's Florida Gators swimming and diving team in National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) competition from 2007 to 2010. She was a five-time NCAA champion, eleven-time All-American, four-time All-Southeastern Conference
(SEC) selection, two-time SEC champion and two-time SEC record holder.
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
who is a world champion and record-holder in the backstroke
Backstroke
The backstroke, also sometimes called the back crawl, is one of the four swimming styles regulated by FINA, and the only regulated style swum on the back. This has the advantage of easy breathing, but the disadvantage of swimmers not being able to see where they are going. It is also the only...
.
Spofforth was born in Shoreham-by-Sea
Shoreham-by-Sea
Shoreham-by-Sea is a small town, port and seaside resort in West Sussex, England. Shoreham-by-Sea railway station is located less than a mile from the town centre and London Gatwick Airport is away...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. She overcame pancreatitis
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. It occurs when pancreatic enzymes that digest food are activated in the pancreas instead of the small intestine. It may be acute – beginning suddenly and lasting a few days, or chronic – occurring over many years...
in 2005, taking a year in and out of the water undecided on future plans to continue swimming. This was a turning point in her career as she finished up at Portsmouth High School. Her decision on where to attend university rested on whether she would continue swimming.
Spofforth represented Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Great Britain competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The United Kingdom was represented by the British Olympic Association , and the team of selected athletes was officially known as Team GB. Britain is one of only five NOCs to have competed in every Summer Olympic Games since 1896...
coming fourth in the 100-metre and ninth in the 200-metre backstroke swimming events.
At the 2009 World Aquatic Championships in Rome, she took the gold medal in the 100-metre backstroke, in a world record time of 58.12 seconds. Spofforth broke the 100-metre Backstroke world record on her way to winning her first world title in Rome, her time of 58.12 erased previous record holder Anastasia Zuyeva time of 58.48 set in the semi finals of the event.
Spofforth accepted an athletic scholarship
Athletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
to attend the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, where she swam for coach Gregg Troy
Gregg Troy
Gregg Troy is an American college and Olympic swimming coach. He is the current head coach of the Florida Gators swimming and diving teams of the University of Florida; the Florida Gators compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Southeastern Conference . ...
's Florida Gators swimming and diving team in National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) competition from 2007 to 2010. She was a five-time NCAA champion, eleven-time All-American, four-time All-Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC) selection, two-time SEC champion and two-time SEC record holder.
Personal bests and records held
| Event | Long course | Short course |
|---|---|---|
| 50 m backstroke | 27.92 NR | 28.63 |
| 100 m backstroke | 58.12 WR | 1.00.45 |
| 200 m backstroke | 2:07.56 | 2.07.64 |
| Key CR:Commonwealth NR:British | ||
See also
- Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
- List of University of Florida Olympians