British Trials, Day 5 Finals: Abbie Wood Sets 2:08 PB To Book 200IM Slot In Paris
Abbie Wood made her first 200IM journey inside 2:09 to book an individual berth at Paris 2024 in 2:08.91.
The 2021 European silver medallist sliced 0.24secs from her previous best of 2:09.15 from the Tokyo Olympics where she finished fourth.
It was well within the qualification time of 2:10.62 with 400IM winner Freya Colbert also dipping inside the cut in 2:10.46 with Katie Shanahan (2:11.39) third.
European junior champion Leah Schlosshan was next home in 2:11.65 ahead of Phoebe Cooper (2:13.50), Elizabeth Booker (2:14.86), Candice Hall (2:15.60) and Alicia Wilson (2:16.26).
Wood booked a place on the 4×2 relay squad earlier in the week but she craved the individual slot, wanting to be among the women jostling for medals in the French capital in July.
Summer McIntosh has broken through the 2:07 barrier in 2:06.89 with Kate Douglass, Alex Walsh and Kaylee McKeown all in the 2:07s while Katinka Hosszu – with her 2:06.12 WR from 2015 – will compete at next week’s Hungarian Nationals.
The 25-year-old’s performance ranks eighth in Britain all-time with Siobhan O’Connor owning the top seven, topped by her 2:06.88 en-route to Olympic silver at Rio 2016 behind Hosszu.
Wood said:
“The 2 medley is always my baby and I just really wanted the opportunity to do it at the Olympics again and hopefully do as well as I did as I did in it last time.
“I know the event’s moved on and I just wanted to move on with the top girls because everyone is within inches of the world record.
“There’s like 2:07s and 2:08s just being churned out and I wanted to be a part of that so hopefully that’s a good first stepping stone.”
Wood, coached by Dave Hemmings at Loughborough, had spoken to Swimming World before the final of the all-or-nothing nature of the trials where there are no second chances.
She said:
“Probably a little more nervous but I always know it’s for the right reasons.
“You’ve only got one day at the Olympics to do it so if you can’t do it on the day here, you’re probably not going to be able to do it in Paris in front of a massive crowd.
“So for me I think it’s a good exercise; obviously the nerves are there but I think I’m definitely more used to it because it’s always been that way since I’ve been swimming at British Champs.
“So it’s nerve-wracking but if I can’t do it at champs then I definitely won’t be able to put in my best performance at the Olympics so I’m okay with it.”
Ultimately, Wood stood up and performed on the day when it mattered.
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- The Road to Paris: Adam Peaty Ready To Attack British Trials
- Duncan Scott Talks The Highs And Lows of Olympic Year On Eve Of British Trials
- Day 1 Prelims: Adam Peaty Goes 58.53 For Fastest Time Since Tokyo
- Day 1 Finals: Adam Peaty Books Tilt At Three-Peat; Returns To Unique Speed
- Day 2 Prelims: Ollie Morgan Rattles British 100 Back Record In 52.87
- Day 2 Finals: Ollie Morgan Lowers Liam Tancock’s British 100 Back Record To 52.70 And Books Ticket To Paris
- Day 2 Finals: Kathleen Dawson Overcomes Career-Threatening Injury To Book Olympic Berth
- Day 3 Prelims: Matt Richards Heads 100 Free In 48.01
- Day 3 Prelims: Katie Shanahan Books Lane Four In 400IM
- Day 3 Finals: Matt Richards Takes 100 Free Title In 47.84
- Day 3 Finals: Max Litchfield Goes 4:09.14 For British 400IM Record
- Day 3 Finals: Anna Hopkin Surges Into Paris With 50 Free Gold
- Day 3 Finals: Freya Colbert Books Paris Berth in 400IM; Katie Shanahan Also Inside Cut
- Day 3 Finals: Daniel Jervis Books Trip To Second Olympics
- Day 4 Prelims: Katie Shanahan Through In 200 Back As Honey Osrin Leads The Way
- Day 4 Prelims: Jacob Peters Posts Sole 51 In 100 Fly, James Guy Through
- Day 4 Finals: Duncan Scott Goes 1:55.91 For 200IM Gold Ahead Of Tom Dean; Both Men Inside The QT
- Day 4 Finals: Honey Osrin Leads Home Katie Shanahan In 200 Back; Both Women Inside The Cut
- Day 4 Finals: Joe Litchfield Wins 100 Fly To Claim Olympic Ticket Ahead Of Joshua Gammon & Jacob Peters
- Day 4 Finals: Holly Hibbott Holds Off Amelie Blocksidge To Win 400 Free
- Day 5 Prelims: Ben Proud Posts 21.70 In 50 Free
- Day 5 Prelims: Abbie Wood Posts 2:11 In 200IM
