World record for Peaty but Condors win the ISL
ADAM Peaty clinched his second world record of the ISL season in the Grand Final over the weekend but he was overshadowed by the Cali Condors and two world records from Caeleb Dressel as they powered to their first ISL title at the Duna Arena in Budapest.
Dressel broke the 100m butterfly world record in his first race of the day and later improved on his 50m freestyle world record to add to the 100m individual medley world record he set in the semifinals.
In the 100m butterfly Dressel was up against the now former record holder Chad le Clos, who had been victorious four times in Season 2020 to Dressel’s three victories.
It was LA Current’s Tom Shields who started strongest, but by the final turn Dressel was in control at the front and he powered away to touch home first in 47.78 and lower le Clos’ world record of 48.08 that the South African set in
Canada back in 2016.
Forty minutes later Dressel returned to the pool for the 50m freestyle and while he did not make the best start, he showed his class to finish ahead of Energy Standard’s Florent Manaudou, breaking his own world record in the process stopping the clock in 20.16, improving his previous best of 20.24 that he set at the ISL Season 2019 Grand Final in Las Vegas in December last year.
Swimming for London Roar, on day one Peaty had to settle for fourth place in the men’s 200m breaststroke in a time of 2.02.89 behind teammate Kirill Prigoda who came first in a time of 2.01.71.
And he was second in the 50m breastroke in 25.50, beaten by 0.2 seconds by Ilya Shymanovich.
But on day two Peaty took centre stage winning the 100m breaststroke in a world record time of 55.41 lowering the world record he set eight days before by 0.8 seconds.
Ilya Shymanovich was second equalling Peaty’s previous world record time of
55.49.
The pair met again in the breaststroke 50m skins race, with the Loughborough swimmer securing a big points win.
Sadly it was not enough for
London Roar who finished the final in third place on 391 points behind the 2019 champions Energy Standard who were second on 464.5 points and new champions Cali Condor on 561.5 points.
London Roar general manager Rob Woodhouse said every race had felt like a world championship final and Cali were deserving winners: “Cali have got great depth. Jason Lezak has put a great team together. It’s a joy to watch them race.”