Adam Peaty stormed to 100m breaststroke gold and a new world record to become Team GB’s first medallist of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as the swimming team collected two medals on the second day of swimming.
The world champion touched in with a time of 57.13, his second world record of the weekend, to become the first British man to win an Olympic swimming gold since Adrian Moorhouse at Seoul 1988.
Making his Olympic debut in Rio, Peaty had been untouchable in the heats and semi-finals, setting his first world record of 57.55 in the former.
The 21-year old continued his dominance into the final, coming home more than a second and a half clear of the field with Cameron van der Burgh of South Africa won silver and Cody Millerof the USA took bronze.
Peaty said: “I can’t even put into words what that swim means to me. I was aware I was in front but not by that much. I touched the wall and looked to my left and thought ‘where is everybody?’.
“I thought the best possible race I could do would be get to 57.3 so to get 57.1 is something else. It’s absolutely incredible.
“I’m not going to settle for just this. I’m going to push forward – I’m sure every gold medallist says this but me and Mel [Marshall] operate differently and we are always pursuing excellence and self-improvement. If we’re not doing that I don’t really see the point. It’ll be good to get back to Loughborough to get back to it and look for areas to improve.
“But for now I’m going to enjoy it and get the relay done and deliver another good performance for Team GB.“I look at those flags and seeing those colours means so much to me. We’ve done so much in this country and to represent the people at home is an absolute honour for me."
- Adam Peaty - Men's 100m Breaststroke Olympic Champion
Jazz Carlin added to the success in the pool and made it a night to remember for Team GB at Rio 2016 after taking 400m freestyle silver just moments after watching Adam Peaty win 100m breaststroke gold.
Carlin, 25, came home in 04:01.2 to claim silver behind the USA’s Kathleen Ledecky who won gold with a new world record of 3:56.46. Another America, Leah Smith, took bronze in 04:01.9.
Carlin said: “It’s an incredible feeling and it’s definitely not sunk in yet. Four years ago I was sat in the stand cheering Team GB on but now I’m actually part of the team and to come away with a silver medal is absolutely amazing.
“I’m so grateful for everyone’s support back home and anyone who got up to watch in the ridiculous hours of the morning – I’m just over the moon.
- Jazmin Carlin - Women's 400m Free Olympic Silver Medallist
“I wanted to come here and give it absolutely everything and have no regrets. Sometimes you swim and think I could have a bit left but I wanted to get myself into the race rather than always having to catch up and then absolutely go for it.
“I could see Katie was a bit in front and having a great swim so I just tried to hang on and am gobsmacked to come away with silver.
“I was in the pool room watching Adam and I had goose bumps on the block. To see someone who’s your teammate achieve a new world record and becomes Olympic Champion right before you swim definitely got me pumped up. It’s been a great night for Team GB in the pool. We’ve got a great team here and hopefully we can keep the momentum up and inspire the rest of the team for the rest of the week.”
Other British action in pool on day two of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games saw James Guy progress through to the Men’s 200m Freestyle.
Chloe Tutton made her Olympic debut in the Women’s 100m Breaststroke, a strong semi-final swim but she just missed out on a finals berth.
In the Men’s 100m Backstroke semi-finals Chris Walker Hebborn took to the pool for Great Britain but just missed out on a spot in the Olympic final.
Finally in the Women’s 100m backstroke Georgia Davies lined up in semi-final two and just missed out on a lane in tomorrow’s final.