Loughborough swimmers certainly had the ' Midas Touch' on day 3 of the World Trials in Sheffield. A golden night of swimming saw us take four out of the five titles up for grabs.
James Gibson,(pictured) former World Champion and Loughborough's longest serving swimmer(James joined us in 1998), opened the proceedings with a magnificent victory in the men's 100m breaststroke. Gibson, now training in Marseilles, produced some ' va va voom' as he powered his way to Gold and a new University record of 1:00.22.
While the Team was still buzzing from 'Gibbo's' swim Joanne Jackson and Caitlin McClactchey stepped up to the blocks for the women's 200m freestyle. It was Jackson, fresh from her World Record breaking 400m freestyle earlier in the week, who set the pace. Both swimmers pulled clear of the field over the final 50m to make it a Loughborough 'one-two'. Jackson's time of 1:56.47 was new British and Commonwealth record whilst McClatchey recorded an impressive 1:57.58.(The video of the record breaking swim is on our website)
Riding the wave of success Kate Haywood destroyed the field in the 100m breaststroke final to take the title in 1:08.59 and book her place on the World's team.
Ross Davenport stamped his authority on the men's 200 freestyle; looking positive and confident from the outset. Turning at the halfway mark in 51.79 he turned the screw to take the title in a new University record time of 1:46.50. Teammate David Davies celebrated his newly found speed by taking bronze in 1:47.50; slightly shy of the new Welsh record that he set in the semi-finals.
Jade Barclay(pictured) secured a place in the women's 200m butterfly final with a superbly paced swim and lifetime best time of 2:13.82 while Scott Hathaway also displayed outstanding pacing and power to progress to the men's 200m backstroke final with a lifetime best of 2:01.54; James Lovatt maintained his 100% best time record with a 2:03.37in the same event.