Alshammar stripped of world record
Therese Alshammar, of Sweden, was stripped of a world record yesterday when it was discovered she wore two swimsuits during a race at the Australian national championships. Swimming Australia officials disqualified Alshammar after a five-hour...
Therese Alshammar, of Sweden, was stripped of a world record yesterday when it was discovered she wore two swimsuits during a race at the Australian national championships.
Swimming Australia officials disqualified Alshammar after a five-hour investigation ruled she had broken the newly introduced rule on swimwear. The 31-year-old immediately lodged an appeal against her disqualification.
Alshammar broke her own 50 metres butterfly world record during yesterday morning's heats at Sydney's Olympic pool.
She stopped the clock at 25.44 seconds, slicing 0.02 seconds off the existing world record of 25.46 she set at a meet in Barcelona in June 2007.
Alshammar was ordered to appear before Swimming Australia officials after they viewed a television replay showing her wearing two suits.
Swimming Australia banned the use of multiple swimsuits after last year's Beijing Olympics because of concerns about extra buoyancy.
The sport's world governing, FINA, introduced a similar rule last week.
Alshammar has been training in Sydney this year and was allowed to compete in the heats of this week's Australian national titles but not the semi-finals or finals.