14 Dec 2012

Lauren Boyle, world swim champion

6:52 pm on 14 December 2012

Twenty-four year old Aucklander Lauren Boyle has become just the second New Zealander to win a world title at the World Short Course Championships after victory in the 800 freestyle in Turkey.

Boyle took seven seconds off her own national record, broke the 400 record along the way and was just outside the championship record.

Boyle says she just wanted to improve her best time and wasn't concerned when world champion Lotte Friis of Denmark went out fast early.

Boyle is the second New Zealand individual to win a world shortcourse gold after Moss Burmester in 2008, while the New Zealand men's medley relay team won in 1995.