Guerher Snatches World Record

2004 Athens Olympic swimmer Marieke Guehrer (Melbourne Vicentre) has received the largest prize in the history of Australian Swimming by taking home the 1st prize at the FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup in Berlin.

The 22 year old is the latest Australian to break a world record, with an impressive 24.99 in the 50m butterfly, shaving over three tenths of a second of the standing record.

She snapped up the record, broken only five days beforehand, by Swedish Therese Alshammar who finished second to Guehrer in the final with a time of 25.35.

This thrilling final race earned Guehrer the $100,000 prize for the best overall performance of the series.

Australian National Head Coach Alan Thompson was very impressed to see Guehrer “save the best till last.”

“For Marieke to pull that world record out in the last race on the last day and with so much at stake is a credit to her – we were all so happy, a great way to finish a great tour.”

Guehrer has made a remarkable comeback after a quiet period following her stint at the Athen’s Olympics. The former Queensland athlete has found a new drive with Melbourne Vicentre coach Ian Pope.

Guehrer finished the series with 23 Medals – 12 gold, 10 silver and a bronze. With individual racing prize money, the overall best performance award and a world record bonus, Guehrer took home a over US$135,000. She raced in over five continents and seven countries in the six week event.

Melbourne Vicentre wishes a huge congratulations to Marieke on her stunning performance over the series and to her coach, Ian Pope.

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