Spofforth: I almost quit after woeful backstroke

Carla Chapman
Wednesday 27 July 2011 19:00 EDT
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(EPA)

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Britain's Gemma Spofforth has admitted she almost quit the sport after losing her 100m backstroke title at the World Championships in Shanghai this week. The 23-year-old spent Tuesday night pondering her retirement but yesterday morning made the decision to continue and focus on 2012.

Spofforth, 23, said: "It was a huge decision to make overnight. A lot of thought went into it. I didn't get much sleep. But I decided this morning that it's 100 per cent commitment from hereon in."

Spofforth, who arrived in Shanghai on a bad run of form and suffering from food poisoning, failed to defend her 100m backstroke title after finishing 23rd fastest, prompting her to consider her future. But following a night of soul-searching, Spofforth, who set a world record on her way to gold at the 2009 World Championships, decided to continue.

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