Scott upstages Guy in fastest time of semis

Duncan Scott swam a personal best to qualify for the 200m freestyle final at the World Championships in Budapest on an evening when Adam Peaty and Ben Proud earned gold medals for Team GB.

Scott, the 20-year-old from the University of Stirling, is racing the 200m for the first time internationally, but showed no nerves. In the morning he eased through the heats with a time of 1:46.62, then stepped things up in the evening with an amazing time of 1:45.16 to qualify for the final with the quickest time in the field, just ahead of Team GB team-mate James Guy (1:45.18). The final is this evening.

Last night belonged to Peaty and Proud though, Peatyposting a time of 57.47 in the 100m breaststroke to add to the gold he won at the Olympics last year. Ross Murdoch, the 23-year-old from the University of Stirling, finished in eighth place with a time of 59.45.

In the 50m butterfly final, 22-year-old Plymouth Leander swimmer Proud posted a British record time of 22.75 to top the podium.

It was also a good day at the pool for the University of Stirling’s Kathleen Dawson. She will be in the 100m backstroke final tonight after the 19-year-old put in two cracking swims, clocking 59.82 in the semis to qualify in eighth for the final.