Davies Powers To Backstroke Gold And Thomas Looking To Follow

Georgia Davies admitted all she was concerned about was the gold as she powered to the European 50m backstroke title in Glasgow.

The 27-year-old triumphed in a time of 27.23 seconds – just outside the European record of 27.21 she set in her heat on Saturday.

Davies said: “I would never have expected the record to go in the heat and I think that meant I put a bit of extra pressure on myself and thought that people were going to expect me to go faster.

“When it comes to the final times are just so irrelevant. You just have to swim your own race and it’s about who can get their hand on the wall first.

“I didn’t mind about the time tonight but I really wanted to win.”

“I tried my best to stay relaxed and just focus on myself the final.

“Just to get the win, that’s all I care about – ultimately it’s about the medals more than the times and I’m so so happy.

“I think 27 is the new 18 really.”

Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Davies beat Russia’s Anastasia Fesikova into silver with Finland’s Mimosa Jallow taking bronze.

Fellow Welsh swimmer Alys Thomas will be looking to add another medal in the 200m butterfly at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre.

The Commonwealth champ clocked two minutes 07.86seconds to win her semi-final.

Thomas’ time was the second fastest of the semi-finals with Germany’s Franziska Hentke quickest in 2:07.55.

Alys Thomas hoping to add butterfly medal to her Commonwealth Games gold.

But Thomas “It felt smooth, it felt good.

“I just kept an eye on what the girls were going but I can’t control what they do so just focusing on me and try to back it up tonight and get through to the final.

“I just take one race at a time really.

“Even though some people might think I’m a dead cert being seeded second in there is no certainty. I am always guaranteed a heat and then just go from there.”