Tonight:
4°c
Brit Gemma Spofforth targets new backstroke best
27.07.09
Gemma Spofforth has the 100metres backstroke world record in her sights after coming within 0.01seconds of Kirsty Coventry's mark at the World Championships in Rome.
She will be the fastest in tonight's semi-finals after a championship record of 58.78sec. Spofforth, 21, said: "It was a minute or so before I realised it was a 58 and not a 59. I'm not hedging my bets for tonight but I'd like to go faster."
Fellow Briton Lizzie Simmonds also qualified as did Liam Tancock in the men's event.
