Alia Atkinson breaks national record on FINA World Cup Tour

Jamaica’s Alia Atkinson on Wednesday made history after becoming the first Jamaican swimmer to break 29 seconds in the 50 metres women breaststroke. This on a day when she added another gold and a bronze medal to her tally at the 2013 swimming World Cup Tour in Singapore.

Atkinson secured her second gold medal in as many days winning the 50 metres breaststroke event in a stunning 28.94 seconds.

She previously held the national record with a time of 29.25 seconds from the Doha stop of the FINA World Cup, but made a serious run at Jessica Hardy’s world record of 28.80 posted at the Berlin stop of the 2009 FINA World Cup.

Atkinson now stands second in the world in the 50 metres breaststroke behind Ruta Meilutyte’s 28.89 from the Moscow stop and is being said to have been a revelation on the World Cup Tour this year.

She later returned to secure a bronze medal with a 58.42 seconds clocking in the 100 metres individual medley event for third.

Meanwhile, Atkinson on Tuesday struck gold in the 100 metres breaststroke as cruised home with a winning time of 1:3.48 seconds.

Japan’s Mio Motegi finished well behind with a time of 1:5.29 seconds while Great Britain’s Sophie Allen placed third in 1:6.73 seconds.

Atkinson however had to settle for one of the minor placing in the 200 metres individual medley as she clocked 2:9.44 seconds to finish six in that race.

She is currently lying fourth in the female money earning list on the current FINA World Cup Tour.

A release today show Atkinson so far earning $49,000 dollars placing her behind Katinka Hosszu of Hungary who is the overall leader male and female with earnings of $201,750 dollars so far.

The other female swimmers ahead of Atkinson are Mirieia Belmonte Garcia of Spain ($72,000) and Daryna Zevina of Ukraine ($50,750).

Atkinson meanwhile lies 7th overall with only three men ahead of her on the list.

Chad Le Clos of Russia ($142,500) is the top earning male on the list.

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