Zoe Pedersen smiles after winning gold in the women's butterfly final at the junior world swimming championships in Romania, on 23 August. Photo: Ian MacNicol
New Zealand's Zoe Pedersen has won gold at the junior world swimming championships in Romania, with a whirlwind finish in the 50m butterfly final.
Pedersen, 18, a Whangaparāoa College student who swims for the Coast Swim Club, was the fastest seed for the final after breaking her own New Zealand age record best in the semi-final on Friday.
In the final, Pedersen had a big margin to make up on Japan's Mizuki Hirai, moving into the top three in the dying stages, but timing her charge with great precision to win by a mere 0.03sec from Hirai, with Denmark's Martine Dambourg third in 25.8-sec. Pedersen only took the lead right at the wall.
She cut 0.16 seconds from the 18-years New Zealand age record she had set in the semi-final, recording a new personal best.
"I was just trying to stay calm. Normally, I get quite nervous and I overrate [over-pace], but I've been working with my coach a lot on staying calm and sticking to my race plan, so it's really cool to see that actually happen," said Pedersen after claiming the gold.
"It's been an epic day for myself and the whole team and I couldn't be prouder. Standing behind the block I wanted to have fun and that's exactly what I did. The competition's not over yet but having the opportunity to light up the blocks has been epic and singing the national anthem was definitely the highlight."
Pedersen's coach and New Zealand team head coach, John Gatfield, said Pedersen's outstanding effort was a testament to the hard work she had put in.
"To see her become a world junior champion is an incredible moment not just for her but for the whole team."
Pedersen will also compete in the women's 50m freestyle event.
Two other Kiwi swimmers set new national age records.
Monique Wieruszowski from North Shore timed in at 1:08.65s in the women's 100m breaststroke final, in which she finished fifth. That was a new 18-years record. And Milan Glintmeyer from the Coast club recorded 28.35sec in her women's 50m backstroke semi-final, to set a 17-years New Zealand age record. She narrowly missed a place in the final.
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