BSSC Masters on Top of the World in 2023

The World Aquatics Masters rankings for 2023 have just been published and two BSSC Masters had such a great year that they feature in the World Aquatics Top 10 lists of fastest swimmers! 

Sixty eight year old Alyson Fordham had an amazing 2023, becoming the fastest woman in the WORLD in her 65-69 year age group in the short course (25 pool) 50m & 100m Freestyle, the 100m & 200m Backstroke and the 100m IM.  She showed her versatility by also being the 4^th fastest in the 50m Backstroke, 5^th in the 200m Freestyle and 50m Breaststroke and 7^th in the 100m Breaststroke.  In the long course (50m pool) format, she again topped the world rankings in the 50m Freestyle, was 3^rd fastest in the 100m Freestyle, 4^th in the 50m Breaststroke, 5^th in the 200m Freestyle and 7^th in the 50m Backstroke. 

Lizzie Bellinger (45-49yrs) also got into the 2023 world top 10 rankings for both short course (SC) and long course (LC) events, being the 3^rd fastest competitor in the world in the SC and LC 100m Butterfly, 6^th in the SC and LC 50m Butterfly and the SC 200m IM, 7^th in the SC 400m IM and 9^th in the LC 200m IM.

Alyson’s record breaking times from the 2023 season also increased her entries in the top 10 fastest swims of ALL TIME to ten events (seven short course and three long course).  By the end of 2023, she held the 3^rd fastest time ever swum in the LC 50m Freestyle and the 6^th fastest LC 100m Freestyle, both of which were European records, and the 9^th fastest 50m Breaststroke time.  Her short course performance was even more outstanding as she increased her European record tally to six (50m/100m/200m Freestyle, 100m/200m Backstroke and 100m IM) and achieved the 3^rd fastest swims of all time in the SC 50m and 100m Freestyle, 5^th fastest in the 200m Freestyle, 100m/200m Backstroke and 100m IM and 8^th fastest in the 50m Breaststroke.  Wow!

Massive congratulations to Alyson and Lizzie for all their achievements and we’re excited to see what 2024 brings for them both!

World Aquatics All Time Long Course Top 10 Rankings

65-69yrs Alyson Fordham

• 3^rd 50m Freestyle (30.56, European Record)
• 6^th 100m Freestyle (1:09.16, European Record)
• 9^th 50m Breaststroke (41.65)

World Aquatics All Time Short Course Top 10 Rankings

65-69yrs Alyson Fordham

• 3^rd 50m Freestyle (29.45, European Record) & 100m Freestyle (1:07.07, European Record)
• 5^th 200m Freestyle (2:33.14, European Record), 100m Backstroke (1:18.70 European Record), 200m Backstroke (2:53.87, European Record), 100m IM (1:20.35, European Record)
• 8^th 50m Breaststroke (41.08)

2023 Long Course World Aquatics Top 10 Rankings

45-49yrs Elizabeth Bellinger

• 3^rd 100m Butterfly (1:08.70)
• 6^th 50m Butterfly (30.10)
• 9^th 200m IM (2:42.50)

65-69yrs Alyson Fordham

• 1^st 50m Freestyle (30.56)
• 3^rd 100m Freestyle (1:09.16)
• 4^th 50m Breaststroke (41.65)
• 5^th 200m Freestyle (2:38.23)
• 7^th 50m Backstroke (38.53)

2023 Short Course World Aquatics Top 10 Rankings

45-49yrs Elizabeth Bellinger

• 3^rd 100m Butterfly (1:07.32)
• 6^th 50m Butterfly (30.02) & 200m IM (2:35.88)
• 7^th 400m IM (5:40.17)

65-69yrs Alyson Fordham

• 1^st 50m Freestyle (29.45), 100m Freestyle (1:07.07), 100m Backstroke (1:18.70), 200m Backstroke (2:53.87), 100m IM (1:19.69)
• 4^th 50m Backstroke (37.61)
• 5^th 200m Freestyle (2:35.13), 50m Breaststroke (41.08)
• 7^th 100m Breaststroke (1:33.06)