Siobhan O’Connor

After a number of tight final races on Day 3, tonight’s competition promises to be no different. This is hardly a surprise when you have multiple World Record holders all competing on the same evening.

#SwimWords has currently predicted 92% of Gold medallists after three days of competition, but with a couple of mouth-watering head-to-head rivalries, forecasts are not getting any easier.

WOMEN’S 200 FREESTYLE

Who will win the Women’s 200 freestyle?

If you asked this question two days ago, the prompt answer would have been Katie Ledecky. However, after the semi-finals unfolded last night, the tall Sarah Sjostrom put a large doubt in the minds of many. The Swede went head-to-head with Ledecky and smoothly proceeded to show her strength to beat a scrappy looking Ledecky in 1.54.65. It was the manner of the way Sjostrom was able to do this and the confidence she is obviously feeling after making history in the pool for her country. There is no doubt that Ledecky was trying, but does she have another gear..?

Both are have swum World Records this meet. Both have raised their game in finals. Both are undoubtedly on great form. Strap yourselves in for this one ladies and gents! (more…)

The burgeoning programme at the University of Edinburgh finished the Scottish Nationals this weekend in Glasgow as the top point scoring club but it was Siobhan O’Connor and Molly Renshaw who stood out from the crowd.

O’Connor, training at the British Swimming performance centre in Bath amongst a host of GB talent, broke the British Record in the 100m Breaststroke in a time of 1.06.34 just 30 minutes after blasting an impressive 2.09.36 200m Individual Medley warning shot to her rivals around the world. This improves on her previous breaststroke lifetime best of 1.07.15 (which she rattled in the heats with 1.07.35). O’Connor looks to be in great form leading into Rio and her improvement on the breaststroke suggests an area she could close on the ‘Iron Lady’ Katinka Hosszu come Brazil. (more…)