Molly Renshaw and Abbie Wood Both Go Under GBR 200 BR Record, Renshaw Hits 2:20

2021 BRITISH SWIMMING SELECTION TRIALS

• Wednesday, April 14th – Sunday, April 18th
• Prelims at 10am local/Finals at 7pm local
• London Aquatics Centre
• British Olympic Selection Policy
• Primary Olympic Selection Meet (not only opportunity)
• Event Page
• Entries
• Live Stream
• Live Results

Night two of the 2021 British Swimming Selection Trials ended with an emphatic race, shortly after Kathleen Dawson‘s hammer 100 back performance.

After going 1-2 in the 200 breast prelims, Molly Renshaw and Abbie Wood eyed the 2:23.37 consideration standard to make the British Olympic team. Tonight, Renshaw shot out to the lead, Wood in tow, to stop the clock at 2:20.89. Wood was second in 2:21.69, while Jocelyn Ulyett was third (2:24.40).

Renshaw and Ulyett previously held the British record at a tie of 2:22.08, Renshaw hitting that time in February at the Manchester International Meet and Ulyett in April 2017 at the British Championships four years ago. When Renshaw went 2:22.08, it was a breakthrough swim, her first lifetime best in the event since the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Tonight, she destroyed that mark, becoming the first British woman under not only 2:22 but also 2:21. Moreover, Renshaw now moves to #11 all-time ahead of Japan’s Kanako Watanabe. Renshaw is now the 12th woman to ever break 2:21.

200 BREAST TOP PERFORMERS, ALL-TIME

1. Rikke Pedersen (DEN) – 2:19.11
2. Yulia Efimova (RUS) – 2:19.41
3. Rebecca Soni (USA) – 2:19.59
4. Viktoria Gunes (TUR) – 2:19.64
5. Rie Kaneto (JPN) – 2:19.65
6. Annamay Pierse (CAN) – 2:20.12
7. Tatjana Schoenmaker (RSA) – 2:20.17
8. Leisel Jones (AUS) – 2:20.54
9. Satomi Suzuki (JPN) – 2:20.72
10. Annie Lazor (USA) – 2:20.77
11. Molly Renshaw (GBR) – 2:20.89

Wood, meanwhile, jumps up to #17 all-time with her swim. After a big ISL season, a breakout was expected this year from Wood, who now looks very good for a spot on the British Olympic team as this is the main qualifier meet and she was well under the consideration cut (and well ahead of Ulyett’s third-place swim). She takes over a second off of her old best, a 2:22.77 from the Manchester International in February.

Renshaw and Wood move to #2 and #4, respectively, on the season’s world rankings.