OSS Ambassador Kathleen Dawson has continued her inspirational form after posting a new British and Championship record in the 50m backstroke semi-final at the European Championships in Budapest.
Dawson struck silver in her ‘warm-up’ event, the 50m backstroke, after a phenomenal battle with the Dutch European record-holder Kira Toussaint in the final, having come within 0.2 seconds of the world record in swimming fastest in the heats and semi-finals. Fellow Scot and Stirling training partner Cassie Wild finished in fourth spot.
Dawson qualified for the Tokyo Olympics as second fastest female 100m backstroker in the world this year and after fine displays in the British trials she is similarly roaring through the Euros in Budapest. She has the 100m still to come.
She admitted: “To be swimming so well at this point in the season, it bodes well for the Olympics. The Olympics are all I’ve wanted since I was a kid, so to be able to go into the Olympics in a position to possibly go for a medal, it’s more than I could’ve asked for.
“I know people will be looking out for me, but this is just prep for the 100m for me, but everything that I’m applying in training is finally paying off for me.”
Lucy Hope, from the University of Edinburgh Swim Team, has also been having a great meet. On the first day of the European Championships, Hope was part of the women’s 4×100 freestyle relay that picked up the gold medal and she also notched a new Scottish record for the 100m freestyle.
Scotland are well represented in the British team competing this week. Catch the finals on the BBC red button or on demand, starting at 5pm each night.
All results can be found Here.
Picture courtesy of British Swimming.
Thought Piece from Charlie Raeburn for Reform Scotland