10:16am Thursday 1st April 2010
CHIPPING SODBURY swimmer Richard Webb has vowed to prove the statistics don’t lie when he goes for 200m breaststroke gold on the final day of the British Gas Swimming Championships in Sheffield.
The 22-year-old is ranked number one in the country and knows touching home first on Saturday will not only guarantee top spot on the podium - but also first place on the plane to October’s Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
After earning the right to represent GB at the World Championships last year, Webb insists he’ll match up to his top billing by securing another trip to a major in 2010. "I’m the top ranked swimmer in Britain for the 200m so I definitely want to go to the Commonwealths in that; I’m expecting to go in that," said Webb.
Webb, who finished 21st in the 200m breaststroke at last year’s worlds in Rome, stepped up his training in the winter in order to muscle into the sport’s inner circle in 2010.
And after breezing through his early swims, the former Southwold SC flyer claimed he couldn’t be better placed to fulfil his Commonwealth ambitions.
"My training has been tough but I’m feeling good and I’m staying the distance so there is no fatigue in there," he added.
"The 100m breaststroke heats was my third fastest swim ever over the distance and the semi-finals my second so that was a good lift for the end of the week."
Webb finished third in the 100m breaststroke final last night in a time of 1.01.37 with Kris Gilchrist winning in a time of 1.01.22.
He said: "It is a little difficult having the 200m second, I would have preferred to get it under my belt and then go all out in the 100m with a bit of security.
"It was really important for me to compete at a shorter distance to my main event because where I am losing time is my front end speed.
"I really need to get that up because at the moment that is what is holding my 200m back so I really need to get that up before my 200m can settle again."
The nation’s leading energy supplier British Gas is the Principal Partner of British Swimming, and have pledged £15m to support the sport at all levels - from paddling pool to podium. For more information visit www.britishgas.co.uk/swimming
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