Melbourne University Sport -

Guehrer claims six Uni Games gold medals Guehrer
5 October 2009; Rod Warnecke

World Champion swimmer and Second Year Arts student Marieke Guehrer smashed her rivals to win six gold medals in the Gold Coast pool at last week’s Australian University Games.

Swimming at her second Australian University Games, Guehrer won gold in the 50m Backstroke, 50m Buttefly; 100m Butterfly; 50m Freestyle; 100m Freestyle and as the anchor leg in the 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay. Each of her individual races was won in new Games’ record time.

Having represented Australia at the 2004 Olympic Games in the 100m Backstroke, Guehrer switched to butterfly and freestyle soon after Athens to become the FINA Short-course 50m Butterfly World Record-holder in 2008 and the Long-course 50m Butterfly World Champion at this year’s event in Rome.

“Swimming for the University is a great way for me to pay back the support I’ve received as a High Performance Scholarship recipient” said Guehrer.

“And the Gold Coast is also a great place to be during the mid-semester break”, she added.

Guehrer’s exceptional performances started with her victory in the 50m Backstroke in a time of 29.64 seconds on day one of the meet – second place was some two seconds slower over the one lap journey. She followed up with victory in the 100m Butterfly in a time of 1.01.38 minutes, again more than two seconds faster than her nearest rival. Day two brought victory over a crack field that included fellow Olympian Melanie Schlanger in the 50m Freestyle in a time of 25.74 seconds (0.57 seconds faster than second-place); and gold in the 50m Butterfly in a time 27.80 seconds (Guehrer swam 25.48 seconds to win the World Championship in Rome in July). Guehrer’s final individual gold medal came on day three of the swim meet with victory in the 100m Freestyle in a time of 56.62 seconds (1.06 seconds faster than second).

Melbourne swimmers Julia Oakley, Felicity Gould and Stephanie Brown then combined with Guehrer to win gold in the 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay in a time of 1.54.19 minutes – just 0.06 seconds ahead of second-placed University of Queensland and a further 0.31 seconds ahead of the University of Sydney in a blanket finish to the race.

First Year Science student Matt Lyons also won gold in the 200m Butterfly, while Brendan Cutts (Third Year Physiotherapy) claimed bronze in the 200m Breaststroke. Oakley, Gould, Brown and Guehrer also backed-up to secure the bronze medal in the 4 x 50m Medley Relay. The University of Melbourne swim team finished fifth overall, having previously won the meet in 2004 and 2006.

Marieke Guehrer will now concentrate on defending her FINA Short-course overall women’s point-score crown that she won across last year’s seven World Cups.

- END -
For further information, contact:
Rod Warnecke, Sport Development Manager
Mob: 0403 199 700
Fax: +613 8344 5583
Email: rod.warnecke@unimelb.edu.au


Home Membership Facilities Aquatics Group Fitness Health Services Boot Camp Clubs Sport and Recreation Photo Gallery Ski Lodge About Us Staff Contact Us News Archive Merchandise	Guehrer claims six Uni Games gold medals 5 October 2009; Rod Warnecke World Champion swimmer and Second Year Arts student Marieke Guehrer smashed her rivals to win six gold medals in the Gold Coast pool at last week’s Australian University Games. Swimming at her second Australian University Games, Guehrer won gold in the 50m Backstroke, 50m Buttefly; 100m Butterfly; 50m Freestyle; 100m Freestyle and as the anchor leg in the 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay. Each of her individual races was won in new Games’ record time. Having represented Australia at the 2004 Olympic Games in the 100m Backstroke, Guehrer switched to butterfly and freestyle soon after Athens to become the FINA Short-course 50m Butterfly World Record-holder in 2008 and the Long-course 50m Butterfly World Champion at this year’s event in Rome. “Swimming for the University is a great way for me to pay back the support I’ve received as a High Performance Scholarship recipient” said Guehrer. “And the Gold Coast is also a great place to be during the mid-semester break”, she added. Guehrer’s exceptional performances started with her victory in the 50m Backstroke in a time of 29.64 seconds on day one of the meet – second place was some two seconds slower over the one lap journey. She followed up with victory in the 100m Butterfly in a time of 1.01.38 minutes, again more than two seconds faster than her nearest rival. Day two brought victory over a crack field that included fellow Olympian Melanie Schlanger in the 50m Freestyle in a time of 25.74 seconds (0.57 seconds faster than second-place); and gold in the 50m Butterfly in a time 27.80 seconds (Guehrer swam 25.48 seconds to win the World Championship in Rome in July). Guehrer’s final individual gold medal came on day three of the swim meet with victory in the 100m Freestyle in a time of 56.62 seconds (1.06 seconds faster than second). Melbourne swimmers Julia Oakley, Felicity Gould and Stephanie Brown then combined with Guehrer to win gold in the 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay in a time of 1.54.19 minutes – just 0.06 seconds ahead of second-placed University of Queensland and a further 0.31 seconds ahead of the University of Sydney in a blanket finish to the race. First Year Science student Matt Lyons also won gold in the 200m Butterfly, while Brendan Cutts (Third Year Physiotherapy) claimed bronze in the 200m Breaststroke. Oakley, Gould, Brown and Guehrer also backed-up to secure the bronze medal in the 4 x 50m Medley Relay. The University of Melbourne swim team finished fifth overall, having previously won the meet in 2004 and 2006. Marieke Guehrer will now concentrate on defending her FINA Short-course overall women’s point-score crown that she won across last year’s seven World Cups. - END - For further information, contact: Rod Warnecke, Sport Development Manager Mob: 0403 199 700 Fax: +613 8344 5583 Email: rod.warnecke@unimelb.edu.au