Day 5 Swimming: World Championships

The best day of the world championships so far? This could be

forced up right in name Mac and my cull Phelps are one or in terms of

medals, there is masses of British interest and the chance of the

first gold medal for Team GB. Ellen Gandy was not far behind her.

It is the biggest race of both of their lives. James Goddard was the

star of the Commonwealth games, he dives into action today at the

depend, against an and Phelps. Yesterday, we were at the new

aquatic Centre. It was awesome. You really get a sense of what it will

be like. We did a race in the evening. You did! Look at that

Olympic tattoo, there. How did the water feel? I wanted to spend as

much time in the water as possible. For the last 15 minutes, I put my

head down. The organisers were kind in the line-up they gave me. The

fast pool is deep, three metres deep. Mark Foster, pool record

holder. Because you are! Just enjoy it. So a deep pool is a faster

pool? Yes. When we swim over the surface, we create waves to the

side and ultrasonic sound ways that go to the bottom and come back up.

In a deep pool, you have gone past when they come up again. So it is a

faster pool. I would not say it was faster than any other pool ever,

the world championships in Shanghai will be the same. When you see the

seeds go up and up, and they will be full of people shouting for you,

it will help. I attempted to come back? I was yesterday a!

Ram Halsall has every chance of being one of the stars. She is a

talented swimmer but it has not gone right for her. She got food

poisoning at the Commonwealth games, she is only a tiny and she went a

horrible colour, she looks seriously ill. At Christmas, she

needed a ankle operation, she is now on the comeback trail.

I have only had half a year of training so why do not see myself

as a contender, so to speak. Because I have only had six months

of training compared to everybody else. But I am in great shape for

the little amount of training I I swam close to my best in

Sheffield, I like a bit of a race. When it comes down to it, I will be

wanting to win. The first semi-final is the women's

quickly. A faster turnover than the other women. This is great from

France, she needs to get out there and used her natural speed. Harder

to hold on with Fran Halsall's pace. She looks very good indeed, here.

She is taking on some of the world's best freestyle us. This is

very impressive indeed. Slowing down a little inside the last five,

very comfortable. 53.48. Wow. will do, went it? Only one other

swimmer gets under 54. That should give her a lot of confidence. Amy

Smith is not managing to step up and take the opportunity as France

did. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next one, Fran

knows where the competition is and did what she needed to do.

Breathing out of your nose is easiest way to control your

breathing. Fran Halsall wins the first women's semi-final. Amy Smith

A nice swimmer, total dominance. knew I needed to something like

that, to get into the game. I was nervous, I had not won in a few

days. I have set a standard for the girls in the second semi-. That is

always a tough call, being in the first one. They have been itching

to swim, I have not won since Sunday morning. I have been locked

in my room, not allowed to do anything for a few days. It is a

good start, I hope I can build on it tomorrow. Nice opportunity to

get in there and raised the game, at the last moment? It is not often

that two people drop out of the semis at this level. And had an

unusual opportunity, I would have liked to make more of it, it was a

last-minute thing but I need to learn to step up and take advantage

of those opportunities. I am hoping freestyle. The two Dutch women

from the USA. She's very good. For me, the two Dutch women in the

Yellow lanes, their strength will hold the pace of the Dutch women.

Easing off a little bit, this is not as smooth for for Heemskerk as

this morning. They did not look as deliberate as Fran. I think you are

right. Fran had the fastest time, going in. I think the pacing here

showed fragility. Tucker big old through. After that, it will be

Fran Halsall not just qualifying fastest for the final, but also the

fastest time in the world this year! Incredible to see. In the

heats, in the morning, she has bounced back. When you see that

interview, she said she wanted out of their cage. It really showed in

the pool. She is healthier than she was in Delhi. She really dominated

the semi-final. Off the back of an ankle operation last year, and

various trials, she is now back to form. As she said, she only had

half a year's training. That will help her confidence, she can beat

them with half as much training. It will take the pressure off. She, to

me, is one of the faces for next year. And she is 21 now, she will

be 22 for the Olympics. Is that about the right age to be peaking?

It is interesting, men and women are slightly different. You can

never say that is when you are at your peak, that age. But she is

coming into her own at the right time, I would say. I think she has

learnt a lot this year. We get carried away sometimes, saying to

train harder. She will have learnt a lot from that injury. I cannot

wait to see her in the final tomorrow. Great sporting moments

are about great head to heads, and in swimming, we have an absolute

corker. Michael Phelps has been the dominant force for the next -- last

seven years. He has looked almost unbeatable and now a man has come

along who can match him, and beat him. His name is Ryan and A. --

Ryan Lochte. Is he now the main man?

It is hard to say in any event that there are just one of two people in

the event. It is not just me and Two of the best swimmers in the

world. Very different personalities, but the great thing is that they

get along well. They get along with the rest of the team. It just so

happens that their best events fall on each other's events. It is

important to remember in any sport, it is just sport. And so, anyone

can win on any particular day and should be allowed to. Those guys

It is just great for the sport, to have both of them. It is brilliant.

Michael Phelps is superhuman any sense, unbeatable. And then along

comes Ryan, who beats him. On their own events, they are clearly

dominant. I would say they are the world's best to maximise because

they dominate their main events. In the 200, they are as good as each

other, it will be a real humdinger. James Goddard is in there as well.

It is really hard. James had the attitude he can beat anyone. With

these two, we are looking at the gone. It is a scrap for third after

that. But he has a chance, he has a lane, he is improving. He pulled

out of the 200m backstroke today, he has problems with his shoulder.

But he is fighting Eddie has a It looks like it is going to be

gulled by the USA. Ryan Lochte finally beats Michael Phelps in the

Head to head, numbers four and five. James Goddard has got a chance. He

has done really well to make this final. Lane six moved a little bit.

I think the starter has let it go. The final of the men's 200 medley.

Right in the centre is Ryan Lochte of the USA against the great

Michael Phelps, numbers four and five. James Goddard is going well

in lane number seven. Is backstroke is superb. He has got to make his

move on the backstroke. As we thought a Michael Phelps is a

little bit ahead of the field. This is where Ryan Lochte makes a bit of

a move. He is a good 1.5 seconds ahead of the rest of the field.

That is the world record line and very good first 100 for James.

Michael Phelps' breaststroke is not good, so he could catch him. If

Ryan Lochte gets to the turn first, I think I would put some money on

him. But Michael Phelps is determined. Ever their gamble!

Michael Phelps is coming back. Ryan Lochte was first to turn. Ryan

Lochte used a little bit more underwater than Phelps. This is a

superb display. Michael Phelps has not given up. He is coming back.

This is very tight. James Goddard is in bronze medal position. Look

at Michael Phelps going back. a new world record. Wasn't it

closed? Unbelievable. The first world record to be broken in the

New era. This is without the shiny, fast suits. Michael Phelps pushed

him all the way to that new world record. It was set in Rome two

years ago. It was his own world record. Michael Phelps desperately

wanted to win a. He is off, he has gone, he is getting out of the pool.

That is the first world record since those shiny suits, so it is

possible. Absolutely. A lot of people were saying those records

would stay for a long time. This just shows the quality of Ryan

Lochte it. We have got to start talking about this guy. He has now

got seven world titles. You are up against Michael Phelps who is a

real genius, but Ryan Lochte has got some talent to do that. That

was 0.16. It does not look like mutti at all. That is so close. Two

of the best swimmers in the world. Head to head. He beats Michael

Phelps. Michael Phelps did really well. The gold goes to Ryan Lochte

and a major world record. That is a massive world record. Michael

Phelps gets the solver. James Goddard was one Ted behind in 4th.

It was really close. I know that bothers you because you hate 4th.

It will probably be my last World Championships. I knew going into

the race I had a good chance of getting a medal. Yes, I am gutted.

It was one-tenth of a second. freestyle was not good enough for

me. I reckon I had about 1.50. The freestyle is where it is won and

lost. You get it your all. You pulled out of the backstroke this

morning to give you energy for tonight. The shoulder has not been

quite right, but the physio got it going and they have got me for that

the world championships will stop if it was not for them, I would be

struggling. There is a big event coming up next year that you can

get yourself sorted out for. Yes, maybe I can get myself sorted out,

that would be nice. The world championships are done and now I

can prepare for the season ahead. I was only slightly behind for the

medal and maybe I can get that the next time. And they will give you

that second. The us, the British public are crazy about sport.

Congratulations, a fantastic world record. How much difference to the

suits make? I don't think they make any difference. I think it is all

in your head. A lot of people said the world record would not get

broken after they banned the suits and I wanted to prove everyone

wrong. Anything is possible. If you put the hard work in, you can

It is Michael Phelps' 30th medal at the World Championships. It is just

extraordinary. I have to say I did not expect him to go that fast. He

was only 61 hundreds of a second He must have an awful lot of those

rabbits and stuffed toys after these Games. He has not got a lot

of silver medals. He does not like those. He it is his 6th world

championship silver medal. Here he is. Ryan Lochte of the USA is the

world champion for the second time in a row in the men's 200 medley.

In doing so, he sets a new world record. I cannot say enough about

that, the first world record set since the old, shiny suits were

Very hard to see where their Ryan Lochte had gold in his gumshield.

It sparkles. Yes. It is interesting what he said about the suit, that

it is psychological. The bottom line is they helped some people

more than other people. You float really well and you are high in the

water and they did not help you. The difference between a great

swimmer and a good swimmer is that much. When you go forwards you lift

yourself up at the same time. Above the water there is no resistance.

You try and lift yourself up as high as possible and the suit

lifted the good swimmers to make them great swimmers. It did not

help those guys because they are so good anywhere. That is a landmark

world record and it is a psychological blow for Ryan Lochte

against Michael Phelps. Michael Phelps did a great time there as

well. He smashed the world records. Ryan Lochte broke the world record

and Michael Phelps was fastest in certain parts. You are talking

about tiny amounts. In the last length Michael Phelps was faster.

Ryan Lochte's backstroke is just a little bit better. The finals of

the 200 backstroke is also tonight. In the Olympics both finals are in

the same session. In the Olympics in Beijing, Ryan Lochte had the 200

backstroke final at the beginning in the same session as the 200

medley about half-an-hour before. Here it is the semi-finals of the

backstroke. This is about half an hour after he has broken the world

record and won the gold in the 200 metres individual medley and he is

just cruising. You can do that against a world-class field and

just play. One word on James Goddard. Just off the middle and

very disappointed. It was just that tiny amount again of an Olympic

medal in 2004 in Athens. Nobody likes it to happen to them, but I

think that will motivate him for next year. He has got a tough

decision because he does the 200 medley and the 200 backstroke as

well. If he just works on his freestyle a little bit more on that

medley, I believe the backstroke his the best event. Will he have to

choose? Can he do both backstroke and medley? No, it is tough. We do

say just to the Baxter? Tomorrow in the final he will see what the

world is doing. He knows what he can do. He has got a real chance of

winning an Olympic medal. If you look at this race, the first and

the second where gone because they were so far ahead of the rest of

the field. In some disciplines you can predict it and in others it is

very open. The men's 100 metres freestyle. James Magnusson is

Enders and he led Australia to gold on the very first day. Seven

different nations are represented holder in a number two. France have

never won this. Australia have competitors. The Brazilian is off

to an absolute flyer. He is wearing a black cab. He has probably got

half a metre lead already. He is going to go for it. This is a

tactic he has to play. Look at numbers three and four and do not

write them off, they come back very strongly. Expect the Australian, be

yellow cab, to come through now. Magnusson is starting to show. He

the first time ever. It is slower than that which he led off the

relay. But who cares? What a great swim. Three-tenths of a second.

Aussies are really chuffed with that. Magnusson knew he had the

speed from the relay. The Brazilian did everything he could with that

tactic of going out. He is just so strong to be able to keep going

with that power. That was a very good swim, beautifully timed. How

much does it mean to him? The first ever Australian gold at the World

Championships. Bang! A slow-motion The a fantastic swim, Australia's

first gold. I am proud to do it for the country. You have had a perfect

week, haven't you? I would say so. It has been a hard week, behind the

cameras, I have had a lot of downtime and my mind has been

ticking over. I was so glad to get out there tonight and get it over

and done with. And the youngest in the field, many years to come?

Plenty of years and speed to come, I hope I keep improving. The 200 is

something I am looking at, it will not be any easy one to make the

team for but I think I could do a sneaky 200 damage track. Enjoy your

James Magnusson there. James says the Australians have Thorpe coming

back. America have always dominated the for by one. A little like a

track and field. They are always dominant. Plus, if Thorp get back

to what he can do, he will be the old man on the team. He is only 28,

he has been on the team since he was 15. USA have strength and depth,

that is what we need. We have two, we need four. Interesting what

James was saying about downtime, and that you have to learn to deal

with that in championships. What is the best way to get through the

time in between races? To make it as normal as possible. What you do

at home? I know you cannot really go off shopping, people will have a

coffee, do some e-mails, watch a movie. The thing is to be as normal

as possible. In the Olympics, there are a lot of distractions in the

village. It is like an amusement park. After your race, great. In

between races, hang out, chat and relax. The rest is more important

than anything else. World championships is one thing. When

you come to the Olympics, there is so much going on, so much to be

distracted by. It is like Stars in Their eyes, people get carried away.

Roger Federer got mobbed in the Olympic village in Beijing, twice.

And this is by other athletes! And he had to leave. He checked himself

into a hotel and stayed out of the village. All of the American

basketball players went and found a hotel because they also got mobbed.

There is so much to do, so much nervous energy. But like Fran said,

but little, stay in your room, and then come out and explode. He would

almost want to bone -- banner phone cameras. A difficult to monitor

everything. I say to everyone, do your own thing. Once be spinning is

over, you have a week to do the sightseeing and everything. -- the

swimming. This is an advantage for the British athlete. They have been

to London and done it. They hire a have got it out of the way. British

swimmers have been doing OK in the pool so far, without setting the

world alight, just one silver medal for Becky Adlington. That could be

about to change, because Jemma Lowe and Ellen Gandy have qualified

fastest and fourth-fastest for their final. Gold is not out of the

question. There are two very strong Chinese swimmers in this, so expect

a lot of noise as we head back to Ellen Gandy in the fourth lane. --

6. A great start, great reactions. The Chinese Olympic medallists in

three and one. As they have gone asserting their position. Really

race is at the top of the pool. Ellen Gandy, down the bottom, is

doing well. Leaving the Australians behind. This is extraordinarily

quick from the Chinese women. Jemma Lowe third, Allam a 4th on the turn.

There are some decent racing here but they have to get going. --

Eleanor Gandy for on the turn. is starting to look good for the

Brits. Jemma Lowe are starting to come through. Gandy Looking

fantastic. Jemma Lowe a little tired, not as quick a turn as she

normally gets. This is two Brits against two Chinese. I think Jemma

Lowe is tiring but Ellen Gandy is having a fantastic race. She is

going well, looks really good. It is going to be really tight down

the last ten minutes. Alan dandy in lane six for Great Britain. He was

going to get the touch? It was close, we get silver. Four one

hundredths of a second. Ellen Gandy has swum the race of her life, for

a silver medal. Well done. A great the silver medal. Ellen Gandy it

almost store it away. I do not think she could have sworn any

better than that. The crowd rising and saluting the world champion.

into collide. It is easy to be clever in the commentary box, if

she could have thrown her arms forward a bit more, she was just a

Congratulations. Four 100 its! not even care, I am happy I got

silver. -- 4/100ths of a second. You were really pulling her back,

though. I was focused on myself and could not see anyone around. I just

went as hard as I could. You have put so much work into that. You

have moved to Australia, your whole family, there has been a lot of

investment. Yes. I am just happy I have done so much better than last

time. A lot of noise at there. That could be for you next year! Yes, it

was just incredible and I came out. I cannot wait until next year when

it is fast. Goal and enjoy a level! -- your medal. Gemma, a solid swim.

I was disappointed with my place there, but I gave it my best shot.

That is what happens. And what now? Your American terms paid off, they

were nice and strong. I would just go and have a little bit of a break,

and start training soon for the Very disappointing for Jemma Lowe,

but a career best performance for Ellen Gandy. She has a great

attitude to go with her talent. said she was over the moon with a

medal, so she should be. She went in at fourth place, and every race

she gets faster. That is the way to do it. Not that she is saving it,

but she does it had the right time. It is the story of two races. You

had the two Chinese swimmers and Gemma, Allam Gandy was a little out

of the way, she could not see what was going on and that will have

helped. When you are in the water, do your own race. She finished so

strongly. You can see her at the bottom of the screen, she really

finishes strongly. At the beginning of the race, you count your strokes.

Towards the end, you put your head down and aim for the wall. You know

how close you are what you cannot change your stroke. It is either a

long collide, a lunch, or you do what the Chinese women did at the

top of the screen. -- a glide, a lunge. There is a sensor, if you

coming slowly, your momentum is If you if you could talk to either

of them, what would you say to In that field, a great result, not

think that could have been done different. Had she put in an extra

half a stroke, she might have won. It is a snap decision at the end.

It may not have changed the result. They are young girls, they are

improving. Gennady daytime earlier this year which could have run the

final. -- Jenner did a time. The thing is, do your own race. Alan is

based in Melbourne, Jeanette is over here. -- Ellen. They will be

checking out each other's time, they want to be the best. What

Baden-Wurttemberg needs to do is get into Europe and raised the

fastest swimmers. You want to keep testing yourself. A second medal in

the pool for Team GB. We are into the semi-finals of the 200m.

Lookout for Michael Jamieson in the second semi-final and Andrew Willis

in the first. The Japanese Olympic paced race.

Interestingly, the favourites going the Japanese champion is still a

gliding a bit, less than he used to do. Good from Willis. Both the

Brits came here to attack the big boys. The defending champion right

up. The white hat at the top is Kitajima. He is on world record

Willis is holding on. Top four in such a fast race would be a great

finish. This is a wonderful display. The European junior champion is

coming back. He is in the grey cap. Kitajima is tailing off the world

record. Andrew Willis needs to keep ongoing. There are four very fast

guys ahead of him. With Edison's second semi-final, he can still

At his best time. You cannot do much more than that. 0.6 of us

second. That guy is just superb. High-fives all round. But it was a

decent start from Willis. It he swam well. But in the end he could

not laboured that pays. Kitajima also could not deliver the 33

seconds he requires to get that world record. I wonder whether he

eased off a little bit. We will find out tomorrow night. He was

disappointed in the 100. He slipped to 4th place. We will see if he

changes his stroke. He has also changed his hair and has got a

Californian haircut! The German Kemback super-fast. That is a very

good time at four Andrew Willis. We will have to wait for the second

semi-final to see if he makes it in. A personal best and it puts you in

with a shout. Hopefully. Coming here I am glad to make a semi and

hopefully it will be a bonus to get into the final. I enjoyed the

experience. It is a PB, so I cannot complain. You and Michael are

coming together, pushing each other along. All of the guys have been

great, pushing each other with David McNulty. We have been working

hard for this. It is all coming together now. Fingers crossed.

Michael Jamieson looked very good good old days of British

breaststroke swimming, Adrian! James Gibson was world champion on

the 50 breaststroke. Yes, we have had a tradition in breaststroke. We

have had a few relatively lean years. But it has got better over

the years. It is good to see two of them in the top eight. Both of them

trained together in Bath with DAVID COULTHARD: Nodded. He has done a

fantastic job with the breaststroke team. -- David McNulty. He is doing

a difference when from this morning. has got some work to do. He is

looking good, but I would like to see him make a move. He is in the

blue hat at the top. He has got to move now. 4th would be not too bad,

but it will be much better if he could catch a couple of guys to his

left. 50 metres to go in the second semi-final. Great Britain's Michael

Jamieson has got a bit of work to do, but he is looking good.

second half will have to be 67 a flat. And he is doing it. He is

coming back. His pacing is superb. We will have to look at the split.

A fantastic second 100 metres. He is really stretching out now.

looks really, really good. That will get him in, I am pretty sure

of that. We will probably have two British swimmers in that final.

Andrew is's time is very close as men seem to use that a little bit

more than the women. A absolutely, if you have got it, use it. Get

their hips in. Jamieson came back in 67.1. That is a fantastic second

100. But he will have to get down as second quicker. He has got to

risk it. He might have a little bit a lovely problem to have, get out

quicker in the final, Michael Jamieson. I think those first three

will all make it. I'm not sure about Michael Brown. That would be

a bit of a shock. He was the Commonwealth champion in Melbourne.

Yes, we have got two British men in the final. They are only one second

of the medal positions. But it is a really split field. We have not

seen many that far apart. That is 2.7 seconds.

A fantastic swim. You leave it to the last 75 metres. Mixed reactions

to that. It took me a while to get going. I have made the by now and

that is the main thing. I definitely feel there is a lot more

there. I feel like I can do another 50. You came back and 67.1. That is

not bad. I felt a lot more controlled this morning. I will go

back and look at the analysis tonight, but I am delighted I am in

the final and I will be looking to drop a bit of time tomorrow night.

And both of you are in as well, which is fantastic. Watching the

girls before always helps. Yes, I was watching the fly and it was

great to see Ellen get on the podium and it was a good swim by

German as well. It is always nice to see that. We have got a great

team and I think we deserve more medals. I think it will be extra

motivation leading into next season. On the whole it has been a really

good meet. The holding camp went really well in Japan and we have

all enjoyed it as well. Maybe tomorrow get out a bit quicker and

use that immense endurance to bring it back? Yes, definitely. I have

got absolutely nothing to lose, so I am going to go for it and stick

it out in the first 100. I know I have got a good last 50 and

sometimes I rely on that a bit too much. I have to be brave tomorrow

Kris Gilchrist, the British record holder did not make it out there.

Interestingly the three of them trained together in Bath. It is

almost like they have an intensive training centre for breaststroke.

Bath is the breaststroke capital of Britain. That is what I mentioned

about being in a place where you can push each other all the time.

When Jemma Lowe and Ellen race together, they push each other all

the time. Every training session is like a race. It is a shame we do

not have a backstreet reef -- Relate. Michael said he is going to

do something he has never done before, and go for it from the

beginning. It is a dangerous mood, but I guess he does not want to die

wondering. He had the fastest last length and he beat Kitajima. He has

got a lot left at the end. What he needs to do is not go from the gun

in the first 50, but push that time. It is all to do with pacing. Maybe

push the early splits a tiny bit more and have that mentality to

think, I will have my back up at the end. He likes to come through

at the end and save something because that is the way he has

always done it. It is the world's championship by no, nothing to lose.

And give yourself a chance of a medal. It is 0.5 between those two

and a medal. When you go into a final, forget the paper. Kitajima

is a tiny bit ahead of the rest. They are only a little bit away

from it. Now is the opportunity one year on from the Olympics, try

something different, they have got nothing to lose. We are now going

to go to a sprint event and there is no chance of pacing. This is the

50-metre backstroke by women. It is not an Olympic event. Gemma

Spofforth did not qualify. We have been talking about how out of form

she has been this week. She said it has given her a kick up the

backside. There is a 16 year-old from America and the Russian was

events at the World Championships. The Russian is pretty quick. No

world champion and No world record- holders in this. I think it is

pretty wide open. 50 metres backstroke for women. They are

allowed 15 under water. It looks like the Chinese in lane six at the

for her. Two silver medals in Rome. She has just now become the world

champion. Japan gets this will. The bronze goes to Franklin of the USA.

-- Japan gets at the silver medal. It is hard to call. I am glad you

lots of colliding in at the end. Russia's first ever gold medal in a

50 backstroke. Franklin, the 16 50 backstroke. Franklin, the 16

year-old, gets the bronze. News From Shanghai this morning that

Becky Adlington is not in the line- up for the relay. Is that a

surprise? Yes and No. In the individual as she was a little bit

out of sorts. I would have, because you know what she is capable of,

but at the same time the top three teams are that far ahead on paper,

that maybe it would not have made that much of a difference. She has

got a final tomorrow evening and they are saving her more for that

and put in her into theirs. I would have put her in, but at the same

time they have got four very good girls and they are all very even.

Yes and the benefit is it saves her for tomorrow the 800 metres. This

is a very tough race and this is the final of the women's freestyle

swimmer. Very quick out his 16 year-old Mellissa Franklin of the

USA. Jo Jackson did not have the best in the freestyle. She had a

couple of tough years medically with asthma. She was coughing so

much she popped a read out. On the left hand side, lane two. But she

is a tough second half swimmer. France are leading. Maybe USA in

the centre. USA is on the world record line. Let's see if Mellissa

Franklin can hold this. Again, the impetuousness of youth. She has got

out quickly. She has got to hold on to theirs. It is not a two-length

race. She has got a good lead to give to the second swimwear. Jo

Jackson is now moving up again. It is good to be next to the

Hungarians. The Hungarians are a strong team. It is good to be a

couple away from the Americans. But they will struggle for medals. They

have got to work hard. Jo Jackson is coming through nicely. But

Mellissa Franklin is holding on to this lead. This is quite ominous.

That is the world record split. She is 16 years of age and six-speed

not sure the others can come back again. Joe Jackson's one a very

good lead as well. -- Jo Jackson swam a very good lead as well. They

are just about in 7th position at together. The good to see Rebecca

to go. This is pretty wide-open, Great Britain are not out of this

at all. USA leading, the at the halfway mark of the women's 400m

relay. Second is China, third Australia, and Great Britain in

fifth position. But looking good at the moment. Hannah Miley in now,

between the Hungarian sand the a private battle with China. Cali

Palmer, on the end, for Australia, she is very good indeed. Hannah

Miley, on the left-hand side of lame two. Not badly placed, not so

far behind. China and Australia are very close indeed, behind USA. It

looks like USA have got it by a decent margin. Cali Palmer should

take the Chinese. You never know what is going to happen. The

Australians far right, yellow cab. group. We have three groups here.

The good news for Great Britain is that by qualifying, they

automatically have the right to swim in 2012 by making this final.

That was the first good step of the morning. 100m to go. A massive

scrap for silver and bronze between Australia and China. That is not

finished. Australia on the right of the two, China with a white hat on

the left. Palmer did a massive kick off the wall there, about 10m. She

has not been able to shake off bellozane tang. -- shake off Tang.

The Australians are coming back and so are the Chinese. The Americans

are not looking great. I can not believe she's going to get caught

but China and Australia are having a go. Gold to the USA. The

Australians still silver. China get the bronze. Great Britain back in

sixth place but they could swim. 7.53, better than heats. Can you

believe the Americans only one by 1.28 seconds? After dominating the

whole race. They will be glad there was not another ten metres on that

one. Palmer thought she was chasing the Chinese, but they were catching

up with the USA. That was a fantastic race. Tango had a great

last length, I did not think she Britain in six, but it was a good

The important thing for today was the qualification, wasn't it?

Absolutely. It was also the fact that everybody put their heart and

soul into it. We swam our hearts out. I am saying heart a lot. It is

a fantastic environment to be in. Becky experienced a final for the

first time. It was really solid, we went faster than this morning, we

did everything we needed to do. have some serious business so we

will let you get off and do your swim down. Betty, how did it feel

to be any big final? Fantastic. I really wanted to be a part of all

the action, the flashing lights and everything. To be part of a great

team, it was really good. That kind of motivation helps, doesn't it? We

have to go to but 5am every day? Yes. But it is what you have got to

doing it is what it in the end. Yes! How was that last length?

There was a bit of European competition going on on that side

of the pool. Yes I know, France and Hungary 2. Them getting back to

where I want to be. I had a difficult year last year, I want to

be good for the team. I think we have a good chance for last year --

next year. Are you a little happier to hang your hat? Obviously, the

start of the week was not great for me. This morning was a solid swim

for me. Things are really starting to pick up and to finish on a 1.57,

I have to be proud of that. The girls were fantastic, we were

really pleased to make the final. We all slammer our hearts out and

It did everything they had into it, but the USA would just amazing.

That first leg, how good was that? Are amazing, especially when you

consider she just got a bronze medal 10 or 15 minutes earlier. The

interesting thing is, the American trials were last year. She is 16

now, she was not as fast were needed in trials. She did not

qualify for the American team but her lead-off would have won this by

half a second. Another to look at next year. She is only 16, isn't

she? So definitely something to look out for. What was your

highlight of the session? I have a couple of highlights. Phelps and

Lochte, two of the stars for next year. It is so interesting because

they are so evenly matched. Disease somebody beating Phelps, seeing

that he is beatable, -- to see somebody, it is just great. A world

record, too. Your other hair like? Ellen Gandy. -- highlight. It is

just so nice to see swimmers, and compete on a world level. And the

chance of more models tomorrow with Fran Halsall. -- medals. She is a

bubbly, charismatic character. You know she's going to perform, it is

what is going to do. It is really We we also have Andrew Willis and

More sport coming upon BBC Two. It has been a very good session in

Shanghai, I hope we have enjoyed watching the highlights.

Congratulations to Ellen Gandy on the biggest race of her life. She

delivered as well as she possibly could with a silver medal. The

other thing to watch out for tomorrow, the men's freestyle relay,