True Prue shines with it all on line
CURRUMBIN Vikings lifesaver Prue Davies has saved her best for last, setting a new world record in her final event on the last night of pool competition at the World Life Saving Championships.
The 21-year-old Gold Coast University student surprised even herself with an amazing performance almost two weeks after her campaign with the Australian team began in Adelaide a fortnight ago – and in her 40th swim.
She powered home in the Pool Rescue competition’s premier event – the 200m Super Lifesaver, the ironwoman event of the pool.
In a time of 2:21:61min she was the new world champion and the new world record holder.
She took 0.12sec off her own previous world mark, set in Warendorf 12 months ago, beating Northcliffe’s Kiwi star Carina Doyle (2:22:53) and Alexandra Headland’s rising swim star Lani Pallister who also set a new youth world record of 2:23:87.
“It’s pretty amazing I wasn’t expecting that at all,” Davies said.
“I just kept telling myself this is the last race you’ve just
got to leave everything in the pool and that’s what I did.
“To come out with a world record is truly unbelievable.”
Davies admitted it was hard to peak again after playing such a key role in the pool and the surf for the victorious Australian team that won back the Alan Whelpton trophy
from New Zealand after eight years.
“It was definitely really tough through the heats – I just wanted to get through to the A finals,” she said.
“And during the race I just kept telling myself ‘just get through that first 100’; the second 100m backend is my strength and I just had to keep telling myself that.
“It’s great to get a win for myself and for my club Currumbin but to get the world record is the cherry on top.”
She also admitted her preparation hadn’t been easy.
“It’s been quite tough actually; training and my University studies and everything that goes with it,” said Davies, who is back on the job this morning with Currumbin’s Rescue Tube Rescue team in the ocean.
“To put everything on hold for this and to get the results it makes it all worthwhile.”