Zoë Baker
British swimmer (born 1976)
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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]
Great Britain (birth to 2004 and 2012 onwards) 
New Zealand (2005 to 2011)| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nationality | Great Britain (birth to 2004 and 2012 onwards) New Zealand (2005 to 2011) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 29 February 1976 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Swimming | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Strokes | Breaststroke | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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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.
