Swimmer Timothy Hodge breaks world record on national stage

After powering through and taking the top honour in the Men’s 100m Backstroke Multi-Class event on night two, Timothy Hodge (S9) set the pool alight on Tuesday evening at the 2019 Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming Championships.

In his first event of the night, the NSWIS athlete set a new world record to take gold in the Men’s 50m Backstroke Multi-Class race.

Fittingly, the 18-year-old broke the record with a time of 29.70 in the very pool named after the athlete who set the record of 29.80 in 2007 – South Australian’s own Paralympian, Matt Cowdrey. Finishing a close second was Rod Welsh (S10) from Yarra Plenty while the bronze went to Brisbane Jet, Harrison Vig (S9).

In his second event Hodge also came out on top – claiming the gold medal in the Men’s 200m Individual Medley Multi-Class. He finished ahead of Kawana Waters’ Liam Schluter (SM14) and Auburn teammate Ricky Betar (SM14).

Fresh from the pool, Hodge said he was buoyed by his results.

“It’s definitely something I’ve been looking forward too (breaking the record) – I’ve been chasing that record for four or five years now,” Hodge said

“I’ve always had it in the back of my mind when I do a 50m backstroke, and it’s rather ironic that I break it in a pool named after the record holder – it’s one in a lifetime.”