Zoë Baker

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]

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 49)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Breaststroke
Medal record Women's swimming Representing  Great Britain World Championships (LC) 2001 Fukuoka 50 m breaststroke 2003 Barcelona 50 m breaststroke World Championships (SC) 2002 Moscow 50 m breaststroke European Championships (LC) 1999 Istanbul 50 m breaststroke 2000 Helsinki 50 m breaststroke 1999 Istanbul 4×100 m medley European Championships (SC) 1999 Lisbon 50 m breaststroke 1999 Lisbon 4×50 m medley Representing  England Commonwealth Games 2002 Manchester 50 m breaststroke

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

• World record progression 50 metres breaststroke