Former Portsmouth High School student Gemma Spofforth has been selected to swim for Great Britain in the Beijing Olympics this summer.

Gemma, who is studying in Florida, returned to England in April to compete in the British Championships and Olympic qualifying event at Pond’s Forge in Sheffield. Ten days previously she had swum in America’s National Collegiate Athletic Association Championships and won both the 100m and 200m backstroke. She set the second fastest time ever recorded in US college history in the 200m backstroke, setting University of Florida school records in both.

In Sheffield, Gemma not only bettered the qualifying times but became the first British woman to break the one-minute barrier in the 100m backstroke, clocking 59.89 in the heats and winning Gold in the final with 59.90. She won Silver in the 200m and will compete in both events in Beijing.

Gemma started her swimming career at the age of 12 at Bognor Swimming Club and progressed to Portsmouth Northsea when she was 15 years old. In 2003 Gemma set GB records for the 50m and 100m Junior Backstroke.

At school Gemma excelled at sport and played in the netball and rounders teams. However as her swimming training became more and more demanding she reluctantly gave up playing for the school teams, but made memorable appearances for Eliot House in the senior interhouse competitions.

At A level Gemma studied Maths, Physics and Music and was offered a scholarship by the University of Florida, where she is currently in her second year studying Physics and Psychology (family youth and community sciences).