Snyders Wraps Campaign with Record-breaking Win in Germany

New Zealand swimmer Glenn Snyders wrapped up his European campaign with another record-breaking victory in the FINA World Cup in Berlin.

Snyders, 24, took out the men’s 100m breaststroke final after winning the 50m breaststroke final on the first day of the short course meet.

After trailing China’s emerging star Xiayan Li at the 50m mark, Snyders came home strongly over the final two lengths to win in 57.82s ahead of Li and Commonwealth Games medley gold medallist James Goddard (GBR).

His winning time broke his own national short course record for 100m set in 2008 and he becomes the first New Zealand breaststroker under the 58 second barrier.

Snyders, coached by Mark Regan at Swimming New Zealand’s High Performance Centre, has completed his brief World Cup campaign in Europe with three wins and a second in the 50m and 100m breaststroke finals, along with a fourth and fifth in the 200m breaststroke finals.

“The World Cup was an opportunity for Glenn to travel to Europe for some very tough racing and a tough schedule against some of the world’s best,” said coach Regan.

“This tough competition is excellent preparation for him. He has only recently come back into training and I am pleased with his performances.”

The FINA World Cup moves to Asia with a number of New Zealand swimmers entered including former world short course medallist Melissa Ingram who will compete in Singapore on 4-5 November, Beijing on 8-9 November and Tokyo on 12-13 November.

FINA World Cup results, Berlin:
100m breaststroke final: Glenn Snyders (NZL) 57.82, 1 (NZ Record); Xiayan Li (CHN) 58.02, 2; James Goddard (GBR) 58.22, 3.