Renshaw shatters GB record in 200m breaststroke final
LOUGHBOROUGH swimmer Molly Renshaw almost certainly booked her place on the plane to Tokyo at the British Swimming Selection Trials when she obliterated the British record in the Women’s 200m Breaststroke in a final that served up two Olympic consideration times.
Renshaw showed her intentions from the opening strokes, leading after 50m and never relinquishing that advantage to clock a remarkable 2:20.89, more than a second faster than her and Jocelyn Ulyett’s previous British mark.
Abbie Wood was never far behind, and she also went under that previous British best with a stunning effort, touching well inside the 2:23.37 Tokyo consideration standard to ensure both Loughborough National Centre athletes put their names in the hat to be on that plane to Japan in the summer.
It was a final that leaves Renshaw relishing what could come next.
“I knew how well I was doing from Manchester, so I was excited to taper down and see what I could do. I’ve had bad luck with Olympic trials in the past, so that’s out the way and I’m so happy to have done the consideration time,” she said.
“I think I’d just like to improve on what I did at the last Olympics. Going there, I was over the moon with making a final – I want to take that next step this year and aim for medals and be on the podium.
“Abbie trains so hard, she’s probably one of hardest trainers I know, so to be able to do that with her alongside me, it was amazing!”
As for Wood – who, like Renshaw, trains under David Hemmings – it was exactly what she had aimed for after narrowly missing the 200m Freestyle time on day one.
“It’s such a relief after yesterday where I wouldn’t say I was gutted, but I expected a bit more from myself – so today, I was really focused on the race and obviously me and Molly pushed each other as best we could, and it worked out well,” she said.
“I think the improvements are down to trusting in my coaches. I never used to be a fan of the gym, but I feel like I’ve really bought into the programme now. It’s been five years coming and I’m glad I stuck at it as long as I did, because there were times when I was ready to hang up my goggles. I’m glad I didn’t now!”
Adam Peaty returned to the stage of his first ever Men’s 100m Breaststroke world record to make another big statement with a dominant victory in that event, his victory time ensuring he has now laid down the 20 fastest ever swims in the 100m Breaststroke.
Having set the world-leading time in the heats, Peaty again showed his intent with an eye-catching start – and there was no looking back from there, the Mel Marshall-coached man going well under 58 seconds as he looks to be the first Brit to defend an Olympic title later this year.
He said: “I’ve had a lot going on with a kid, moving house, so I’m happy to come here and put it down, consolidate the top 20 ever. It was good, the execution was perfect for me, I’m way ahead of where I should be now so I’ll take a lot of confidence into the summer, the Olympics and having Great Britain on my back and show the world we’re a force to be reckoned with.
“The motivation with a child, it’s like nothing else, it’s unreal. Every day he gets older, every day I get more motivated. He’s learning to crawl and getting teeth, that’s another achievement! It’s great to be a father and hopefully be an inspiration for him when he grows up.
“It’s been very tough, not to take anything from these athletes who’ve been out of the pool, but it’s been extremely tough – what got me through it was that little glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel. If you can keep your eyes focused on that and power through every single day waking up with a positive mindset, you prove you can do anything.”
James Wilby took victory in the mens 200m breaststroke, justifying his pre-selection for the
GB Olympic team.
He said: “Being pre-selected is pretty nice, that little safety net – but that didn’t take away from me coming here, a few months out from the summer, and really wanting to put some fast swims in and set myself up for going towards the Games.
“Our Loughborough National Centre squad is a bit of a dream team at the moment. I’m really happy with my own swims, but then I watch people doing their swims here and think, ‘it’s a pretty special group of people I get to be around every day!’ That pushes me on to maintain my place in that group, because it’s fast.”
Loughborough swimmer Joe Litchfield set a PB of 1:57.74 in the 200m IM finishing second behind world champ Duncan Scott to put himself in contention for an Olympic debut in Japan, while brother Max, took victory in the 400IM dipping inside the 4:13.47 requirement time in the process.
And Abbie Wood took another step towards the Olympic stage by winning a dramatic Women’s 200m Individual Medley setting a new PB to get under the 2:11.10 consideration standard.
Sarah Vasey added her name to the lengthy list of swimmers to have gone under Olympic consideration times with an eye-catching win in the Women’s 100m Breaststroke.
The Mel Marshall-coached athlete had waited all week to make her mark in her one and only event for the meet, and she went out fast over the first 50m, holding off team mate Molly Renshaw down the closing metres to clock a lifetime best and go under the 1:06.79 requirement, finishing a mere 0.03 seconds off Siobhan-Marie O’Connor’s British record.