Spofforth: I almost quit after woeful backstroke

(EPA)

Britain's Gemma Spofforth has admitted she almost quit the sport after losing her 100m backstroke title at the World Championships in Shanghai this week. The 23-year-old spent Tuesday night pondering her retirement but yesterday morning made the decision to continue and focus on 2012.

Spofforth, 23, said: "It was a huge decision to make overnight. A lot of thought went into it. I didn't get much sleep. But I decided this morning that it's 100 per cent commitment from hereon in."

Spofforth, who arrived in Shanghai on a bad run of form and suffering from food poisoning, failed to defend her 100m backstroke title after finishing 23rd fastest, prompting her to consider her future. But following a night of soul-searching, Spofforth, who set a world record on her way to gold at the 2009 World Championships, decided to continue.