Rebecca Linton

Rebecca Jane Linton (born 26 September 1985) is a New Zealand former swimmer, who specialised in long-distance freestyle events.^[1] She held New Zealand records in the 400 and 800 m freestyle, until they were all broken by Lauren Boyle in 2012. Linton is also a member of Howick Pakuranga Swim Club in Auckland.

Rebecca Linton

Personal information
Full name	Rebecca Jane Linton
National team	New Zealand
Born	(1985-09-26) 26 September 1985 (age 37) Auckland, New Zealand
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	62 kg (137 lb)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Freestyle
Club	Howick Pakuranga

Linton qualified for three swimming events at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, by clearing FINA B-standard entry times of 4:19.03 (400 m freestyle) and 8:52.08 (800 m freestyle) from the New Zealand Championships.^[2][3][4]

On the second day of the Games, Linton placed thirty-first overall in the 400 m freestyle.^[5] Swimming in heat two, she edged out South Korea's Ha Eun-Ju to take a sixth seed by 0.07 of a second in 4:21.58.^[6][7] She also teamed up with Helen Norfolk, Alison Fitch, and Nathalie Bernard in the 4×200 m freestyle relay. She swam a third leg in heat two with a split of 2:05.17, but the New Zealand settled for seventh place and thirteenth overall, in a final time of 8:14.76.^[8][9] In her third and final event, 800 m freestyle, Linton picked up a seventh seed in heat three, but was unable to break a 9-minute barrier with a time of 9:02.41. Linton failed to reach the top 8 final, as she placed twenty-fourth overall from the morning's preliminaries.^[10][11]

Shortly after the Olympics, Linton retired from swimming to focus on her studies at the University of Auckland. In 2008, she graduated with the bachelor's degree of psychology and management, before joining the New Zealand Police.^[12]

References

1. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. . Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
2. "Swimming – Women's 400m Freestyle Startlist (Heat 2)" (PDF). Athens 2004. Omega Timing. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
3. "Swimming – Women's 800m Freestyle Startlist (Heat 3)" (PDF). Athens 2004. Omega Timing. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
4. "NZ Olympic Team Profiles: Swimming". TVNZ. 30 June 2004. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
5. Norquay, Kevin (15 August 2004). "Swimming: Youngster finds Olympics tough going". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
6. "Women's 400m Freestyle Heat 2". Athens 2004. BBC Sport. 15 August 2004. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
7. Thomas, Stephen (15 August 2004). "Women's 400 Freestyle Prelims: France's Manaudou Powers to 4:06.76 to Lead a Fast, Wide-Open Field for the Final". Swimming World Magazine. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
8. "Women's 4×200m Freestyle Relay Heat 2". Athens 2004. BBC Sport. 18 August 2004. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
9. Thomas, Stephen (18 August 2004). . Swimming World Magazine. Archived from the original on 3 December 2005. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
10. "Women's 800m Freestyle Heat 3". Athens 2004. BBC Sport. 18 August 2004. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
11. Thomas, Stephen (19 August 2004). . Swimming World Magazine. Archived from the original on 3 December 2005. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
12. "Interview with the First Female King of the Bays Winner – Rebecca Linton". New Zealand Ocean Swim Series. 27 March 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2013.

External links

• Rebecca Linton at the New Zealand Olympic Committee