Dreams of Gold
Lowe books Olympic spot with record swim
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| Jemma Lowe, left, with medley team-mate Fran Halsall |
HARTLEPOOL-born swim sensation
Jemma Lowe insists her
birthday champagne will remain
on ice, despite qualifying for the
Beijing Olympics at the first attempt
yesterday.
Lowe was 18 on Monday but
rather than enjoy her new-found
freedom she decided to underline
her class in the pool by smashing
the British record in the 200m
butterfly heats of the British
Championships.
She then followed that up by
pipping pre-event favourite Ellen
Gandy and her Stockton Swimming
Club teammate, Jessica
Dickons, to gold after leading
home the field in a time of 2.07.61
minutes.
And with her heat time of
2.06.64 minutes, four seconds inside
the Olympic qualification
standard, Lowe can now look forward
to a trip to China this summer.
But despite the double reason
to rejoice Lowe revealed all celebrations
were on hold until she
seals the 100m butterfly title,
which gets underway tomorrow.
gI wanted the 200m title but I
know I have the 100m coming up
as well,h said the Borough of
Stockton star, who is one of The
Northern Echofs Dreams of Gold
hopefuls.
gI can relax a bit more and
enjoy my swimming but there
wonft be much time to celebrate.
gI canft believe I have won. The
final was a lot less painful than
the heats but it was all about finishing
in the top two and not worrying
about anything else.
gThere wasnft really any time
to celebrate my birthday. I donft
suppose there are many people
who go to bed at nine ofclock on
their 18th birthday but I wanted
to go to the Olympics so it had to
be done. It was just a massive relief
at the end.h
Lowe arrived in Sheffield in
confident mood, having helped
Britain to medley relay gold at
the European Championships in
Eindhoven last month.
And Lowe defended British
swimmingfs decision to schedule
finals in the morning in Sheffield
and heats in the evening in an attempt
to replicate the conditions
that will face the squad in Beijing.
gThe set-up we have doesnft
bother me to be honest,h she
added. gIfve always been a good
morning swimmer so it didnft really
affect me too much that I had
to get up to swim.
gItfs just so unreal to think that
Ifll be going to the Olympics. It really
is a dream come true.h
Lowe has become the second
North-East sportsperson to be a
confirmed participant in this
yearfs Games after South
Durham ABC fighter Bradley
Saunders claimed his place by
gaining bronze at the World Boxing
Championships in Chicago
earlier this year.
But there was Olympic
heartache for Lowefs club-mate
Jessica Dickons, who missed out
after finishing third in the final.
Dickons, who also recorded the
qualifying time on Monday,
clocked 2.10.11 minutes, over two
seconds behind silver medallist
Ellen Gandy from Beckenham.
Meanwhile, Wear Valleyfs
Chris Alderton missed out on a
medal in the menfs 400m freestyle
final, finishing fourth in a time of
3.52.36 minutes.
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10:58am Wednesday 2nd April 2008
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