ADAM Peaty won the 100 metres breaststroke at the World Championships on Monday night and yesterday morning to qualify fastest in a world record over 50m.
The 22-year-old swimmer set the world record of 26.42 seconds en route to winning 50m breaststroke gold in Kazan, Russia two years ago.
Peaty was optimistic of going quicker in the non-Olympic event after a halfway split of 26.50secs in the 100m, which he had also won in 2015.
He predicted “something special” and delivered – clocking 26.10 in the morning heats.
Cameron van der Burgh of South Africa was second quickest in 26.54. The 0.44 margin is huge over one length.
Peaty’s 100m title was one of two gold medals for Britain on day two, with Ben Proud winning the non-Olympic 50m butterfly.
Van der Burgh was Peaty’s predecessor as Olympic champion, having won at London 2012, and set a personal best over 50m.
The South African had withdrawn from the 100m to focus on the one-length event.
Brazil’s Joao Gomes was third fastest qualifier for Tuesday night’s semi-finals in 26.67 and Kevin Cordes of the United States was third fastest in 26.83.
Peaty did not expect a world record yesterday and certainly not by going 0.32 quicker than his previous best.
Peaty said: “Coming into the heats this morning I saw Cam, saw Kevin go quite fast. I was like ‘right, I’ll put a mark down’.
“I was quite relaxed. I wasn’t going out there this morning for a world record. Honestly. I was going out there just to qualify for the semis.
“It’s 10am. It’s quite early for a world record. I’m very happy with that swim. That world record is two years old, so it’s due another push on.
“Last night gave me the confidence because I was out in 26.50. I was like ‘right, this is so, so easy - if I can turn off that I can definitely push it on for a 50’.
“That didn’t really feel like my best race, so move it on tonight we’ll be very happy.”
Asked for his reaction to Van der Burgh’s swim in the prior heat, Peaty said: “I don’t know, just I want to be faster. It’s sport.
“I’m very competitive and I wanted to get that best lane, best semi for the semi tonight and we’ll push it on again for the final (today) hopefully.”
Van der Burgh, the previous world record holder, congratulated Peaty on his world record.
“It’s a good time, but gold medals aren’t won in the heats,” Van der Burgh said.
“We know what he’s capable of now. He’s shown all his cards. But it’s a great swim nonetheless.”
Peaty was the only Briton in heat action on day three at the Duna Arena.
And British Swimming head coach Bill Furniss praised Peaty’s performances and work ethic.
Videos of the Loughborough swimmer’s press ups – where he pushes his entire body, including his feet, off the floor, and claps – and other gym exercises have provoked admiration on social media.
Speaking prior to the 50m swim, Furniss said on BBC Radio 5 Live: “Watching Adam work out in the pool and the gym... it’s pretty awe-inspiring to watch.
“People say ‘you deserve everything you get’ because his pain tolerance and desire to push himself daily is unbelievable.”
Peaty’s 100m win came in 57.47, the second fastest time in history and behind only his own world record of 57.13 set in winning Olympic gold in Rio.
His long-term goal is ‘Project 56’, clocking under 57 seconds, and another gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
“When you’re that far ahead you’ve got to have something to motivate you,” Furniss added.
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