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Elizabeth SIMMONDS
Sport Swimming
NOC Great Britain   
GenderWomen
Born22 Jan 1991 in Beverley, ENG
Height1.71 m
Weight 60 kg
 Human Interest 
General Interest
Injuries
 Illness affected her performances in the 100m and 200m backstroke finals at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, People's Republic of China. (thisislincolnshire.co.uk, 03 Mar 2012)
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport?
 She loved the water so much when she was a child that her parents found the only way to stop her crying was to put her in a paddling pool. Later on she had friends competing in swimming, so she also became interested.
General Interest
Hero / Idol
 Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, US swimmer Michael Phelps, Swiss tennis player Roger Federer. (English Aquatics Team Media Guide, 2010)
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?
 She began swimming at a local club and was talent spotted at age eight.
International Debut
Year
 2006
Competing for
 Great Britain
Tournament
 European Championships
Location
 Budapest, HUN
General Interest
Nicknames
 Lizzie, Simmo (British Swimming, 21 Apr 2006)
Sporting philosophy / motto
 "When you get to the top level, it's 90% mental." (thisislincolnshire.co.uk, 03 Mar 2012)
Other information
 RETIREMENT
She retired from competitive swimming in July 2018. "I've experienced the highs of elite sport, swimming in multiple Olympic finals with the whole world watching. Once I missed out on an Olympic medal by just a few hundredths of a second. It's been incredibly exciting to be part of British sport during the last decade, to flow with the tide of success that the athletes and coaches of this nation have created. I feel very proud to have played a small part in that movement." (swimswam.com, 09 Jul 2018)

CONSIDERING RETIREMENT
She contemplated retiring from competitive swimming after not being selected for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, despite winning the 200m backstroke at the British trials. "I kind of thought I was done with it all. But I realised I wanted to finish my career, whatever period of time that is, on my terms. I've made a very positive move to the University of Edinburgh, I'm enjoying training again, and seeing the results in recent competitions.” (sportsgazette.co.uk, 04 Nov 2017)

ATHLETE REPRESENTATIVE
In November 2016 she was voted onto the British Olympic Association Athletes' Commission by her fellow athletes. She will serve a four-year term on the 12-member commission. (britishswimming.org, 15 Nov 2016)
Further Personal Information
Languages
 English
Residence
 Bath, ENG
Family
 Partner Tom Maisey
General Interest
Memorable sporting achievement
 Racing in front of a home crowd at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. (damekellyholmestrust.org, 2017)

 Competition Highlights
Olympic Games
Rank Year Venue Event Result
4 2012 London, ENG 200m Backstroke 2:07.26 
6 2008 Beijing, CHN 200m Backstroke 2:08.51
Semifinal 2008 Beijing, CHN 100m Backstroke 1:00.39
World Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
Semifinal 2015 Kazan, RUS 200m Backstroke 2:10.57
Semifinal 2015 Kazan, RUS 100m Backstroke 1:00.40
7 2011 Shanghai, CHN 200m Backstroke 2:08.76
7 2011 Shanghai, CHN 100m Backstroke 59.89
Heat 2009 Rome, ITA 50m Backstroke 28.78
5 2009 Rome, ITA 200m Backstroke 2:07.98
7 2009 Rome, ITA 100m Backstroke 59.71
7 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 200m Backstroke 2:11.09
Heats 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 100m Backstroke 1:02.87
4 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 4 x 100m Medley Relay  
World Championships Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
Semifinal 2012 Istanbul, TUR 50m Backstroke 27.28
5 2012 Istanbul, TUR 200m Backstroke 2:04.55
Semifinal 2012 Istanbul, TUR 100m Backstroke 58.34
8 2012 Istanbul, TUR 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:38.23
2 2008 Manchester, ENG 200m Backstroke 2:02.60
5 2008 Manchester, ENG 200m Individual Medley 2:09.24
7 2008 Manchester, ENG 100m Backstroke 58.28
8 2008 Manchester, ENG 50m Backstroke 27.79
3 2008 Manchester, ENG 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:53.02
European Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
2 2014 Berlin, GER 200m Backstroke 2:09.66
Heats 2014 Berlin, GER 50m Backstroke 28.88
Semifinal 2014 Berlin, GER 100m Backstroke 1:01.35
3 2014 Berlin, GER 4 x 100m Medley Relay  
1 2010 Budapest, HUN 200m Backstroke 2:07.04
2 2010 Budapest, HUN 100m Backstroke 1:00.19
1 2010 Budapest, HUN 4 x 100m Medley Relay  
1 2008 Eindhoven, NED 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:59.33
Heats 2006 Budapest, HUN 50m Backstroke 30.08
5 2006 Budapest, HUN 200m Backstroke 2:13.02
Semi Final 2006 Budapest, HUN 100m Backstroke 1:02.42
1 2006 Budapest, HUN 4 x 100m Medley Relay  
European Championships Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
  2008 Rijeka, CRO 200m Individual Medley  DNS
12 2008 Rijeka, CRO 4 x 50m Medley Relay  
5 2008 Rijeka, CRO 100m Backstroke 57.51
5 2008 Rijeka, CRO 50m Backstroke 26.88 
3 2008 Rijeka, CRO 200m Backstroke 2:03.12
8 2008 Rijeka, CRO 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1:40.87
7 2006 Helsinki, FIN 100m Backstroke 59.91
3 2006 Helsinki, FIN 200m Backstroke 2:05.74
3 2006 Helsinki, FIN 4 x 50m Medley Relay 1:48.26
World Cup Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
5 2014 Singapore, SGP 50m Backstroke 26.99
7 2014 Singapore, SGP 200m Backstroke 2:07.53
5 2014 Singapore, SGP 100m Backstroke 58.53
7 2014 Tokyo, JPN 50m Backstroke 26.96
17 2013   Overall  
5 2013 Beijing, CHN 100m Backstroke 58.28
1 2013 Beijing, CHN 50m Backstroke 26.83
3 2013 Beijing, CHN 200m Backstroke 2:04.14
2 2013 Singapore, SGP 50m Backstroke 26.85
2 2013 Singapore, SGP 200m Backstroke 2:03.30
3 2013 Singapore, SGP 100m Backstroke 57.58
7 2013 Singapore, SGP 100m Individual Medley 59.99
2 2013 Tokyo, JPN 50m Backstroke 26.62
2 2013 Tokyo, JPN 200m Backstroke 2:02.34
3 2013 Tokyo, JPN 100m Backstroke 57.20
33 2011   Overall  
3 2011 Berlin, GER 50m Breaststroke 27.09
3 2011 Berlin, GER 200m Backstroke 2:02.54
3 2011 Berlin, GER 50m Backstroke 27.09
19 2009   Overall  
3 2009 Berlin, GER 200m Backstroke 2:02.12
1 2009 Singapore, SGP 200m Backstroke 2:01.48 AR
2 2009 Singapore, SGP 100m Backstroke 57.10
2 2009 Stockholm, SWE 100m Backstroke 56.92
1 2009 Stockholm, SWE 200m Backstroke 2:02.01 AR
1 2007 Sydney, NSW, AUS 200m Backstroke 2:05.21
1 2007 Sydney, NSW, AUS 100m Backstroke 58.14