Holly Barratt’s bronze opens swim team’s medal account at World Uni Games
Swimming Australia, July 6, 2015: West Australian late bloomer Holly Barratt last night opened Australia’s World University Games medal account in the pool, claiming bronze in the 50m butterfly final on the second night of swimming finals at Nambu University Aquatic Centre in Gwangju, South Korea.
After qualifying fastest in the heats (26.54), 27-year-old Barratt (Uni of WA) was a fraction slower in the semi, with her 26.61 the fourth fastest qualifier for the final, however she burst from the blocks in the final to scoot down the pool in a new PB of 26.41 seconds. China’s Lu Ying producing a Games Record time of 25.72 to win gold.
“I just wanted to improve from my result from the last Universiade, which was fifth, and set a new PB and I did both of those so I’m happy with the result,” Barratt said after the race.
Barratt returned to the pool two years ago after a five-year break, Barratt has come back with a mission and has pushed her 50m freestyle ranking to sixth in Australia.
She said she began swimming as a child to help with her asthma, and at about 10 years old showed some promise at a school swimming carnival.
But, at 17, she left the pool.
“I don’t think I had enough passion or drive to do all the training I needed to do,” she said in a recent interview.
After five years out of the sport, her former coach inspired her to return by becoming a swim coach at the Swan Hill Swimming Club and, before she knew it, she was swimming with the Rockingham Stingrays Swimming Club.
“I don’t think there was really a moment, I just think I started gradually,” she said.
“I became a lot more aware of the opportunities that I can have in swimming.”
Since then, Barratt has competed in State finals, national finals and the World University Games in Kazan, Russia, last year.
“I did my first open national competition at 24, most people are about 15,” she said.
Barratt said she could not wait to represent Australia again.
“It is exciting to swim for Australia and going to an international competition, there is no atmosphere like it,” she said.
Coach Will Scott said it was great to watch Barratt develop.
“As Holly has gotten older she has really grown into the idea of being able to train better, manage her time and nutrition better and this is the type of benefit you see from it,” he said.
“Holly’s story is definitely a unique one.”
She returns for her main event, the 100m backstroke, tomorrow before lining up in the 50m backstroke and 50m freestyle later in the week.
The men’s 100m breaststroke saw Nicholas Schafer (University of Wisconsin) qualify second fastest for the semis with a 1:00.90, he shaved a whisker off that in the semi, going 1:00.86 to qualify seventh fastest for final where he also finished seventh in 1.00.90.
In the men’s 800m freestyle, Jack McLoughlin (QUT) stormed home to finish fifth in a new PB (7:57.76), with Bond University’s Jordan Harrison finishing eighth in 8:10.40.
After finishing sixth fastest after the morning heats of the 200m freestyle with his 1:49.50, Jacob Hansford produced a slashing first semi-final to take it in 1:48.75 for fifth fastest overall ahead of tomorrow’s final.
In the 100m breaststroke, after a strong heat (3rd in 1:08.32), Jessica Hansen (Deakin University) swam faster in the semi-final to finish second in a new lifetime best of 1:07.48 and third fastest for tomorrow night’s final.
Aisling Scott (University of Queensland) was sixth in her heat (1:09.65), to sneak into the semis as 16th qualifier where she finished 6th with a new personal best of 1:09.39 (14th overall).
After winning her heat of the 100m freestyle in the sixth fastest time of 55.94, Ami Matsuo (Ultimo TAFE) returned for the semis where she finished fourth in 55.72, enough to claim the final spot for tonight’s final.
Defending 200m individual medley champion Justin James cruised through his heat and finished second in his semi (1:59.29) to qualify 2nd fastest for the final, just .08 behind fastest qualifier Joshua Prenot of the USA.
In the same semi, men’s swim team captain Travis Mahoney (Deakin University) finished third in 2:00.33, to also qualify for tonight’s final in seventh fastest.
In the women’s 1500m freestyle, Kiah Melverton (Griffith University) was third fastest in 16:29.62 to easily qualify for tonight’s final.
Meanwhile the opening day saw Australia’s women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team Ami Matsuo (Ultimo TAFE), Kiah Melverton (Griffith Uni), Holly Barratt (Uni of WA) and then Ellen Fullerton QUT) finish sixth in 3:43.73. The USA won the gold in a new Games record of 3:38.12.
The men’s 4x100m free qualified 3rd fastest (3:19.81) in the morning and returned to the pool deck aiming for a podium finish. The team of men’s captain Travis Mahoney (Deakin University), Jacob Hansford (ACPE), Jack McLoughlin (QUT) and Justin James (ANU) went faster in the final, but their 3:18.66 was good enough for sixth spot, before subsequently being disqualified for an illegal final change.
Swimming from lane six after qualifying fourth fastest for the final of the 400m individual medley, Ellen Fullerton (QUT) finished seventh in 4:43.29. The gold went to Sarah Henry (USA in 4:38.88). Fullerton’s QUT teammate Tianni Gilmour, finished 12th overall in 4:48.69.
Issued on behalf of Swimming Australia by
Ian Hanson| Media Manager
Ian Hanson| Media Manager Triathlon Australia Managing Director
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