Streamlined News: Ellen Gandy’s Switch, Masters Swimmers’ Record-Breaking Weekend


PHOENIX, Arizona, December 4. YESTERDAY the big news from Australia was that butterflyer Ellen Gandy was changing her sports citizenship from Great Britain to Australia, where she's lived for the past six years. Gandy stayed with Great Britain in order to compete for the host country at the 2012 Olympics, and did not fare well in London, unable to get into a championship final. Now Gandy will help beef up Australia's butterfly roster, especially in the 200. Gandy must take a full year to make the transition according to FINA rules, and that means she won't be able to compete at next summer's world championships. Her first international championship could be the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Last weekend, more than a dozen short course meters Masters world records were broken at two meets in California and Texas. Olympian Matt Biondi made his Masters swimming debut in Long Beach, California, and broke a world record in the 50 freestyle with a 23.65 for the 45-49 age group. Laura Val broke four of her own world records in Long Beach in the 100 free, 50 back, 200 back and 100 fly, and Steve West, who was the oldest male competitor at the US Olympic Trials at age 40, broke all three breaststroke world records in the 40-44 age group, while Robert Strand set three of his own in the 100 and 200 breast as well as the 100 IM in the 65-69 age group.

Over in San Antonio, Texas, David Guthrie was part of five world records, setting new records in all three breaststroke events in the 50-54 age group and helping Longhorn Masters break the medley relay records.

You can look at all the Masters world records broken last weekend in articles in our Masters channel at swimmingworld.com.

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