The Christchurch swimmer Sophia Batchelor has finished third in the 200 metres backstroke at the final meet of the prestigious Mare Nostrum swim series in Monaco.
The 16-year-old is using the series as invaluable preparation towards next month's world championships in Shanghai.
She was fifth fastest in heats before finishing third in the final, clocking two hours 15 minutes and 22 seconds to finish behind the meet record from Japan's Shiho Sakai and multi world and Olympic champion Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe.
