Photo: James Allan Photography of Queenstown, New Zealand.

“The cold doesn’t bother me any more and it’s just fun to be racing at such a big event,” said Frozen Fern swimmer Sophie Winter to reporter Ruby Shaw.

That statement was obvious to the spectators on Day 5 at the IISA 6th World Championship in Molveno, Italy and a nod of acknowledgement to the Frozen Ferns’ pre-worlds acclimatization camp held in England.

Once the 18-year-old Winter entered the 1.8°C water among the world’s fastest female breaststrokers, the New Zealand star was able to showcase her talents in the 100m breaststroke.

Sophie won over 23-year-old Zoe Ducret of France and 20-year-old Christina Gockein of Germany who were followed closely behind by a pair of 40-year-olds Natascha Hebestreit of Italy and Melanie Hall of Great Britain. With her victory, she added another IISA world championship title to the Winter family collection as younger sister Heidi had captured the 100m freestyle title earlier in the competition.

Sophie also holds the IISA world record in the 100m individual medley and came in as the pre-race favorite after her initial splash at the IISA New Zealand and Southern Hemisphere Championships victories in the 50m and 100m breaststroke events. She was previously honored as the 2022 Otago Female Emerging Swimmer of the Year – and clearly realized her outstanding potential this week in Italy.

100m Breaststroke Women’s Final Overall Results

1. Sophie Winter (New Zealand 18, IISA bio here) 1:25.86
2. Zoe Ducret of France (38.74, 23, IISA bio here) 1:27.05
3. Christina Gockein of Germany (38.00, 20, IISA bio here) 1:27.05
4. Natascha Hebestreit (Italy, 41, IISA bio here) 1:28.62
5. Melanie Hall (Great Britain, 43, IISA bio here) 1:29.00
6. Franziska Partheymüller of Germany (38.65, IISA bio here) 1:31.98
7. Julie Broeggler (Denmark, 31, IISA bio here) 1:33.94
8. Lili May Mustoe of Great Britain (39.17, 22, IISA bio here) DNS

Age group world records were set by the following swimmers:

• Sallie Cheung (Great Britain, 70, IISA bio here) 1:54.12
• Lene Noerboege (Denmark, 61, IISA bio here) 1:43.13
• Linn Hansen (Norway, 55, IISA bio here) 1:38.08
• Sarah Anne Richter (Germany, IISA bio here) 1:32.02

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