Dominant Peaty targeting double gold in Budapest
LOUGHBOROUGH based Adam Peaty showed his dominance of the swimming arena this week claiming gold in the 100m breaststroke at the 2017 World Swimming Championships in Budapest.
His gold medal came on Monday night in the 100m breaststroke and he followed that up by booking his place in the semi finals of the 50m breaststroke, setting a new world record of 26.10 in the morning heats for good measure.
“Coming into the heats I saw Cam and Kevin go quite fast and I knew that I had to put a mark down. I wasn’t going out there for a world record honestly.”
As for his gold in the 100m breastroke he said: ““I’m one-and-a-half seconds ahead of the rest of the world and I’m very happy with that but it’s not the time I focus on, it’s the way I did it which really pleases me. It’s a great way to start my next Olympic cycle.”
Elsewhere there was further success for the Loughborough with Sarah Vasey marking her World Championship debut by reaching the final of Tuesday’s 100m breaststroke final.
The 2017 British Champion, who trains with Peaty’s coach Mel Marshall after making the move the British Swimming’s National Centre Loughborough towards the end of last year, qualified eighth fastest in 1:06.81, although fellow Loughborough Georgia Davies could not follow suit in the 100m backstroke
“I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I would be. I was more excited,” said Vasey. “Everyone has been swimming really well and because I am new I was just taking it all in.
“I wasn’t getting ahead of myself thinking I need to make the final. I just want to take each round as it comes but it’s amazing to get there. I’m just going to prepare as I usually would.”
Meanwhile Charlotte Atkinson got her first taste of the World Championships in the 100m butterfly, missing out on the semifinals.
Atkinson was a little off her best, finishing 23rd in 59.04, but has already turned her attention to her preferred 200m fly on Wednesday.
She said: “My main event is the 200m anyway, so to get one over and done with is good.
“It was alright as a time, it wasn’t great but it’s my first World Championships and my first event so it’s about learning from it.”
Jocelyn Ulyett, Molly Renshaw and Abbie Wood, are amongst other Loughborough swimmers who will be in action later this week.
• You can help the next generation of young British swimmers by getting involved in Sports Aid Week this September with five-time Paralympic champion Ellie Simmonds OBE. Find out more about how you can support the week of fun and fundraising by visiting www.sportsaid.org.uk/sportsaidweek