Mellors Wins Gold with Record-Setting Swim
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Aug. 13, 2007
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Pat Mellors, a fourth-year member of the Virginia swimming team, won the gold medal in the 400 individual medley Monday at the 2007 World University Games. The event, which is being held in Bangkok, Thailand, commenced last Wednesday and runs through Aug. 18.
Mellors, who is representing the United States, broke the World University Games record in the prelims, finishing in a time of 4:14.10. Swimming in the final, Mellors bested is own time by more than a second, capturing gold in 4:12.94.
“The standard of our team here in Thailand is exceptionally high,” Mellors said afterwards. “I’ve made a huge leap in my own performance during this meet, and of course everyone is looking at the Beijing Olympics next year. But it is very, very hard to get into the U.S. squad at the moment.”
Team USA finished 1-2 as Alex Vanderkaay won silver, touching in 4:17.34. Bronze went to Federico Turrini of Italy in 4:19.96.
Mellors’ time of 4:12.94 in the event was the sixth-fastest all-time by an American, behind world record holder Michael Phelps, among others. The mark also is the seventh-fastest in the world this year.
Entering the World University Games, Mellors had a personal-best time of 4:20.70 in the 400 I.M., which he recorded at the 2004 Olympic Trials.
“Everyone associated with Virginia swimming is extremely proud of Pat for his amazing accomplishment,” UVa coach Mark Bernardino said of Mellors. “The last two years he has excelled at working and training diligently. All his effort paid off with this outstanding performance. There is no question that Pat will be a factor in the 2008 Olympic team trials.”
Mellors, also a member of the 2005 World University Games team, was named the 2007 Atlantic Coast Conference Swimmer of the Year and set conference records in both the 200 I.M. and 400 I.M. In February, Mellors won three ACC Championships at the conference meet, including his third consecutive conference title in the 200 I.M. In March, Mellors earned two first team All-American honors after his performance at the NCAA Championships.
The objective of the 24th World University Games is to provide opportunities for university students from all over the world, especially athletes aged 17-28, to compete equally in the Games with their powerful sprit, devotion and goodwill.