Kathleen Dawson set a European 100m backstroke record of 58.08 on the lead-off as Great Britain won the women’s 4x100m medley gold in a new championship mark in the final event of the European Championships in Budapest.
The Scottish swimmer has been on superb form this week, claiming 100 back gold in a twice-swum race on Friday as well as 50 silver plus gold in the mixed medley relay.
On Sunday, she split 28.23/29.85 to take 0.04 from the previous record of 58.12 held by fellow Briton Gemma Spofforth since the 2009 World Championships.
She leaps to fourth all-time behind Regan Smith, Kaylee McKeown and Kathleen Baker and a sub-58 is well within her sights.
The British quartet took gold in 3:54.01 to slice 0.21 off the previous championship record of 3:54.22 set by Russia at Glasgow 2018.
Russia were second and Italy third.
Kathleen Dawson. Photo Courtesy: Georgia Kerr, British Swimming
Dawson is coached by Steven Tigg at the University of Stirling alongside Cassie Wild who won silver in the 200 back on Sunday.
She has put herself firmly in the mix for medals come Tokyo with the opening ceremony exactly two months hence and the record was apparently something that had been on her mind as she said:
“It’s great to finally get it, especially here.
“It’s amazing seeing the British team doing so well and it was amazing seeing Cassie and then the boys win tonight.
“That really lit a fire under me so I think I knew I was going to make it.”
She added:
“We worked really well as a team.
“I want to thank my coaches and my support team and my family back home.
“I’ve swum so consistently here and it’s all thanks to them.
“It’s been such a great week and I really enjoyed myself.”
100 Back Rankings All-Time
- 57.57; Regan Smith (USA), 2019 World Championships
- 57.63; Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2021 Sydney Open
- 58.00; Kathleen Baker (USA), 2018 USA National Championships
- 58.08; Kathleen Dawson (GBR), 2021 European Championships
- 58.10; Kylie Masse (CAN), 2017 World Championships
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