Zoë Baker

Zoë Baker
Personal information
Nationality Great Britain (birth to 2004 and 2012 onwards)
 New Zealand (2005 to 2011)
Born (1976-02-29) 29 February 1976 (age 48)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesBreaststroke
Medal record
Women's swimming
Representing  Great Britain
World Championships (LC)
Bronze medal – third place 2001 Fukuoka 50 m breaststroke
Bronze medal – third place 2003 Barcelona 50 m breaststroke
World Championships (SC)
Bronze medal – third place 2002 Moscow 50 m breaststroke
European Championships (LC)
Silver medal – second place 1999 Istanbul 50 m breaststroke
Silver medal – second place 2000 Helsinki 50 m breaststroke
Bronze medal – third place 1999 Istanbul 4×100 m medley
European Championships (SC)
Gold medal – first place 1999 Lisbon 50 m breaststroke
Bronze medal – third place 1999 Lisbon 4×50 m medley
Representing  England
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2002 Manchester 50 m breaststroke

Zoë Baker (born 29 February 1976) is a former world record holder in swimming who represented Great Britain until 2005, when she switched allegiance to New Zealand whilst living there.[1] She later returned to the United Kingdom and she switched her allegiance back to Great Britain in 2011.[2]

Swimming career

National titles

Baker won the ASA National British Championships 50 metres breaststroke title eight times (1992, 1993, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003).[3][4][5][6]

1999

At the 1999 European Aquatics Championships in Istanbul, Baker swam 31.43 seconds in the semifinal of the 50-m breaststroke to set a European record.[7] She collected a silver medal in the final.[8]

2000

Baker earned the silver medal in the 50-m breaststroke at the 2000 European Aquatics Championships in Helsinki, finishing behind Ágnes Kovács of Hungary.[9]

2001

Baker won the bronze medal in the 50-m breaststroke at the 2001 FINA World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, finishing with a time of 31.40.[10]

2002

Baker represented England at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester winning the gold medal in the women's 50 m breaststroke in a time of 30.60 seconds.[11] She also set a world record of 30.57 seconds in the semifinal round of the same event, breaking the previous mark set by Penny Heyns of South Africa.[12] In addition, she set a short-course world record with a mark of 30.53 seconds at the South African National Short Championships in Durban,[13] then surpassed that mark later in the same month.[14]

2003

In 2003 Baker collected another medal in the 50-m breaststroke, a bronze at the 2003 FINA World Aquatics Championships in Barcelona behind Chinese swimmer Luo Xuejuan.[15]

2006

At the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne she was 4th in the same event, this time representing New Zealand.[16]

2012

In January 2012 Baker switched her allegiance back to Great Britain for international swimming competitions.[2]

Coaching career

Baker was the head coach of the Bournemouth Collegiate School Swimming Academy.[2] Baker relocated to Australia in 2022 to take up the head coach role at Peel Aquatic Club, located in Mandurah WA.

See also

References

  1. ^ BBC. "Baker to make New Zealand switch". 17 December 2004. Retrieved on 14 June 2013.
  2. ^ a b c Zoë Baker's Website. Retrieved 21 June 2013
  3. ^ Lord, Craig (12 June 1992). "Lord, Craig. "Baker passes demanding examination of character." Times, 12 June 1992, p. 32". The Times. Times Digital Archive. p. 32.
  4. ^ ""For the Record." Times, 11 June 1993, p. 42". The Times. Times Digital Archive. 11 June 1993. p. 42.
  5. ^ ""For the Record." Times, 9 July 1999, p. 49". The Times. 9 July 1999. p. 49.
  6. ^ ""For the record." Times, 31 July 2000, p. ^". The Times. 31 July 2000.
  7. ^ BBC. "Baker sets new 50 metre record". 29 July 1999. Retrieved on 14 June 2013.
  8. ^ BBC. "Double silver for British swimmers". 30 July 1999. Retrieved on 14 June 2013.
  9. ^ Ballard, Bob. "Brave Baker claims silver". BBC, 10 August 2000. Retrieved on 14 June 2013.
  10. ^ BBC. "Baker takes bronze". 27 July 2001. Retrieved on 14 June 2013.
  11. ^ Henderson, Charlie. "Baker charges to gold". BBC, 31 July 2002. Retrieved on 14 June 2013.
  12. ^ BBC. "Baker smashes world record". 30 July 2002. Retrieved on 14 June 2013.
  13. ^ BBC. "Briton sets world record". 5 January 2002. Retrieved on 14 June 2013.
  14. ^ BBC. "Baker breaks world record". 27 January 2002. Retrieved on 14 June 2013.
  15. ^ BBC. "Phelps ends on high". 27 July 2003. Retrieved on 14 June 2013.
  16. ^ BBC. "Swimming: 50m breaststroke". 19 March 2006. Retrieved on 14 June 2013.
Records
Preceded by Women's 50-metre breaststroke
world record holder (long course)
30 July 2002 – 31 July 2005 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Women's 50-metre breaststroke
world record holder (short course)
4 January 2002 – 17 January 2002 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Women's 50-metre breaststroke
world record holder (short course)
27 January 2002 – 14 March 2002 		Succeeded by