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HARTLEPOOL'S Jemma Lowe signed off her World Championship campaign in impressive style as she landed a stunning 100m butterfly bronze in Manchester.

The 18-year-old student, who collected bronze in the 4x100m medley on Friday, has enjoyed a memorable 14 days after qualifying for the Beijing Olympics in the 100m and 200m butterfly at the British Championships in Sheffield last week.

Roared on by a vociferous crowd, Lowe claimed the final podium spot in 56.84 seconds, with Australian Felicity Galvez taking gold in a world record time of 55.89 and America's Rachel Komisarz the silver.

"I am really pleased, it was amazing," said Lowe. "It feels good to finish on a high, especially after two hard weeks of racing and stressing.

"It was great to experience the crowd, I loved it. When I walked out it was so loud it made me smile.

"It gives me energy, and while I was swimming towards the end I was taking their energy and support.

"There were some fast girls. It was just great to get among the medals and it was a great way to end this whole two weeks."

Lowe, who turned 18 on March 31, has yet to celebrate her birthday, with competitions in Sheffield and Manchester arriving thick and fast.

But after competing with the world's best at the World Championships, Lowe revealed she is brimming with confidence ahead of Beijing.

"These two weeks have boosted my confidence," added Lowe.

"I was nervous before the trials; in fact I had been for ten months.

"When I qualified it made me so much more confident. All my hard work had paid off and I knew I could come to this meet and just try my best and race hard.

"I surprised myself, especially being in a situation I have never had to deal with before so it was great."

Meanwhile, Derwentside swimmer Jo Jackson played her part in helping the women's 100m freestyle relay team clinch bronze on Saturday night.

Jackson swam the first leg of the heat on Saturday morning, but didn't compete in the final as Mel Marshall, Fran Halsall, Caitlin McClatchey and Julia Beckett clinched the final podium place.

The 21-year-old, who won a bronze medal in the 400m freestyle event on Friday night, said: "The race went all right but I'm not really a 100m swimmer.

"I thought I had finished on Friday night but we were brought in on Saturday and told to get the girls into the final.

"I've had a great championships and to get a bronze medal was just what I came for."

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9:46am Monday 14th April 2008

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