World Champion Adam Peaty set two new World Records as he launched his defence of his 50m Breaststroke title on day three of the World Championships in Budapest and in doing so started a new chapter in the history of the sport as he became the first man to dip below the 26-second mark.
Far from content with his 100m Breaststroke gold from the previous night, Peaty showed power and pace in the morning heats as he took a significant slice off his own World Record to lower the standard from 26.42 to 26.10.
But he wasn’t done there. Tonight Peaty (National Centre Loughborough) dominated his semi-final as he muscled his way to the wall and a moment in history with a jaw-dropping 25.95.“I wasn’t planning on a World Record but I was on such a massive high from this morning. It was hard to ignore the fact that I did a World Record and trying to get myself emotionally ready but I’ve learnt from my experiences over the past two or three years.
- Adam Peaty
“I didn’t think I was going to do that, I thought I was going to go slower because I felt less energetic. But it’s all about tomorrow night.
“I just dived in, I felt good and I wasn’t that far behind after the start which is a bonus for me. I enjoyed it but obviously it’s nothing without the gold so I need to focus now, be neutral and see what we get tomorrow.”
Olympic silver medallists Duncan Scott (University of Stirling) and James Guy (National Centre Loughborough) narrowly missed out on the medals in the Men’s 200m Freestyle when they finished fourth and fifth in what was the most fiercely contested men’s race of the night.
Scott touched just 4/100s off the bronze medal in 1:45.27 with Guy just behind in 1:45.36. Sun Yang of China took the gold, silver went to Townley Haas of the USA and Russia’s Aleksandr Krasnykh took the bronze.
“I have to keep my head held high, that was my first 200m Free final,” said Scott. “International experience, that’s what I want wanted to gain in the 200m but finishing fourth is pretty gutting.
“I’ve had no international experience in the 200m before. My plan was to just go out there to try and swim the same as I did last night but it didn’t quite happen. It gives me huge confidence for the relays though. We’ve got Jimmy Guy to bring in and two other strong guys so we’re looking good.”
Commenting on his race, Guy said: “I think I got a little bit carried away at the beginning. I got over excited in that initial 100m so definitely a lesson to be learnt - don’t go out too fast, it won’t pay off and it will hurt the back end.
“It’s the start of a four-year plan for me but with my roommate Peaty winning gold and Ben Proud winning gold I want to be up there. There is still a lot to fight for this week and I’m ready.”
British Rookie Kathleen Dawson stood tall in her first international final when she went in the Women’s 100m Backstroke. The University of Stirling swimmer finished eighth after impressing through the rounds on her first national team.
“I would’ve like to have gone faster,” said Dawson, “I’ve swam best times in the past two races I’ve been in but to make a world final is great for the future. I’m so happy with what I’ve come out here and done.
“I’ve been taking everything in as I’m going and enjoying it. It’s a huge experience for me and it’s a huge step up from Europeans. I’ve still got the 50m to come and hopefully I can be involved in the relay so we’ll see how it goes.”
- Kathleen Dawson
In the final race of the night Sarah Vasey (National Centre Loughborough) finished eighth in a World Record- breaking final of the Women’s 100m Breaststroke in her first international final.
“I think the nerves may have just got the better of me tonight but it’s quite cool to see and be part of a World Record breaking race.
“To be competing against those girls and not just looking up to them is pretty awesome. I wanted to try and go faster each round and move it on but I’ve made a final at my first world champs, I can’t complain at all.”
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