Chris Walker-Hebborn

Christopher James Walker-Hebborn (born 1 July 1990) is an English swimmer who competed for Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2016 Summer Olympics, winning a silver medal at the latter.[1]

Chris Walker-Hebborn
Walker-Hebborn in 2015
Personal information
Full nameChristopher James Walker-Hebborn
Nickname(s)"Chris"
National team Great Britain
Born (1990-07-01) 1 July 1990
Enfield, London
Height1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Weight80 kg (176 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesBackstroke
ClubUniversity of Bath
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing  Great Britain
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place2016 Rio de Janeiro4×100 m medley
World Championships (LC)
Gold medal – first place2015 Kazan4×100 m mixed medley
Silver medal – second place2017 Budapest4x100 m medley
World Championships (SC)
Silver medal – second place2014 Doha4×50 m mixed medley
European Championships
Gold medal – first place2014 Berlin100 m backstroke
Gold medal – first place2014 Berlin4×100 m medley
Gold medal – first place2014 Berlin 4×100 m mixed medley
Gold medal – first place2016 London4×100 m medley
Gold medal – first place2016 London4×100 m mixed medley
Bronze medal – third place2014 Berlin50 m backstroke
European Championships (SC)
Silver medal – second place2013 Herning100 m backstroke
Silver medal – second place2015 Netanya50 m backstroke
Bronze medal – third place2015 Netanya100 m backstroke
Representing  England
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place2014 Glasgow100 m backstroke
Gold medal – first place2014 Glasgow4×100 m medley
Bronze medal – third place2010 Delhi4×100 m medley
Bronze medal – third place2014 Glasgow4×100 m freestyle

A successful youth and junior athlete, Walker-Hebborn achieved a breakout year in 2014, winning two Commonwealth Games titles and three European Championship titles, including the Commonwealth Games and European Championships 100-metre backstroke gold medals.

A key member of the England and Great Britain medley relay teams, he formed part of the world record breaking, world title winning Great Britain mixed medley team at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships. He also won gold medals as part of the England men's medley relay at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and both men's and mixed medlay relay teams at the 2014 European Aquatics Championships, again with Great Britain. In 2016 he was part of the Great Britain team to retain both the men's and mixed medley relay titles, his fourth and fifth European golds. At the 2016 Rio Olympics he won a silver medal as part of the men's 4 × 100 m medley relay.

Early career

He is currently based at the University of Bath, where he trains at one of British Swimming's Intensive Training Centres. As a teenager he spent two years at the British Offshore Centre in Australia at The Southport School, from 2006 to 2008.

In March 2009, he qualified for his first senior World Championships after beating event favourite James Goddard in the 200 m backstroke at the British Championships, held in Sheffield.[2]

Walker-Hebborn's preliminary heat performance in Rome secured him a place in the semifinals where, as one of the few swimmers not wearing the controversial full body suit. This is when he set a new British record to become a finalist. The record was to stand only briefly, as he broke it again in the finals (1:56.05), placing 9th.

He was offered a scholarship at Florida State University in January 2009 but returned to his Bury St. Edmunds home after just a few weeks due to lack of long course training.

Later career

At the 2012 Summer Olympics, he competed in the men's 100 and 200 m backstroke, finishing in 20th and 22nd respectively.[3]

In 2014, he won gold at the Commonwealth Games in the 100 m backstroke, in a new Games record of 53.12 seconds.[4] He was also part of the English 4 × 100 m medley relay team that won gold in a Games record, and the 4 × 100 m freestyle team that won bronze.[5][6]

At the 2016, he teamed with Adam Peaty, James Guy and Duncan Scott in the GB team that won a silver medal in the men's 4 × 100 m medley relay at the 2016 Summer Olympics.[7] He also finished in 11th in the men's 100 m backstroke.[3]

Chris Walker-Hebborn with the gold-winning team in 4 × 100 m mixed medley at the 2015 Kazan World Championship

Competition results
International competition Event Time Position
World Championships 2009 200 m backstroke 1:56.05 (former NR) 9th
Domestic competition Event Time Position
British Championships 2014 100 m backstroke 53.82 GOLD
50 m backstroke 25.09 GOLD
British Championships 2011 100 m backstroke 55.41 SILVER
200 m backstroke 2:01.94 BRONZE
British Championships 2010 200 m backstroke 1:57.39 SILVER
100 m backstroke 54.78 SILVER
200 m freestyle 1:49.98 6th
British Championships 2009 200 m backstroke 1:57.95 GOLD
100 m backstroke 54.96 SILVER
200 m freestyle 1:48.99 5th

References
  1. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Chris Walker-Hebborn". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020.
  2. "'Poppet' backs himself for a stroke of fortune". The Independent. 22 March 2009.
  3. "Chris Walker-Hebborn Bio, Stats, and Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  4. "Glasgow 2014 - Men's 100m Backstroke Final". g2014results.thecgf.com. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  5. "Glasgow 2014 - Men's 4 x 100m Medley Relay Final". g2014results.thecgf.com. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  6. "Glasgow 2014 - Men's 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay Final". g2014results.thecgf.com. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  7. "Great Britain Swimming at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Games". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
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