Ben Proud on 21.3 50 Free: “I Think I Could Have Gone Faster”

2017 BRITISH SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

On night 5 of the 2017 British Swimming Championships, Ben Proud popped off a new British Record to win gold in the 50 free. Proud demolished the field by nearly a full second, touching the wall in 21.32. That took 2 tenths off his own former British Record, which stood as a 21.54 from the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Proud now sits atop the 2017 world rankings in this event. He’s moved ahead of Russia’s Vlad Morozov (21.44), who formerly stood on top of the rankings after breaking the Russian National Record at their national meet a week ago.

Here’s a quote from his post-race interview:

“It’s impressive for this time in the season. I’m still looking to move that on as well. To be honest I’m not happy with how I swam it and I think I could have gone faster but it is what it is.”

Check out the full post-race interview below, courtesy of British Swimming’s YouTube channel.

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tea rex
7 years ago

Personally, I think he should have ben proud with his 50 free time.
Sorry.

sven
Reply to  tea rex
7 years ago

This triggered me and I put my head through my laptop screen. You’ll be hearing from my lawyer about the damages.

MichaelTran
7 years ago

I hope he can do it again in WC or better :))
Anyway, the 50m free is always interesting to watch and predict. But I am waiting to see Mr.Dressel’s performance and my heart says that he can do something special this year

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  MichaelTran
7 years ago

me too , i wait Dressel in full shape in that 50 free ( and 100 free respectively )

Uberfan
7 years ago

Unpopular opinion, he won’t beat that time

Dee
Reply to  Uberfan
7 years ago

He won’t need to 😉

Uberfan
Reply to  Dee
7 years ago

Another unpopular opinion he won’t touch that time again

Verram
7 years ago

Good on him.. I’m glad the Brits are ranked number one so far in many events so far heading into Budapest

finniewinnie
Reply to  Verram
7 years ago

As the Aussies have shown many times, rankings mean nothing

ELLIE
Reply to  finniewinnie
7 years ago

Brits are not the same as Aussies

Uberfan
Reply to  Verram
7 years ago

Just wait till USA has their trials

Coach Mike 1952
Reply to  Uberfan
7 years ago

Just like before Rio, then us trials and the rankings change rapidly.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Coach Mike 1952
7 years ago

Ohh yes , changes will happen end of june .

ThomasLurzFan
Reply to  Uberfan
7 years ago

If i remeber correctly, then british swimmers are ranked first in men’s 50/100 free and men’s 100 breast. The american trials won’t change anything about Peaty being ranked first and i doubt that an american swimmer will be faster than Proud. So only Scott might lose his top spot in the rankings, but not even that is for certain. Today we have the finals in men’s 200 free/back and women’s 100 fly/breast, it would be more than surprising if a british swimmer would take over the top spot in the world rankings in one of those events today.

E Gamble
Reply to  ThomasLurzFan
7 years ago

I think the word “many” was what was in question. The British men are ranked number one in 3 events thus far. The only event that is safe with the upcoming US trails is the 100 breaststroke. And what about your women?

ThomasLurzFan
Reply to  E Gamble
7 years ago

1) I agree that the word “many” might be misplaced, although i think that Peaty is also ranked first in men’s 50 breast, so that makes 4 events where brits are ranked first (no one said that we are only talking about olympic events). Many = 4 … ? I don’t know …
2) I am not british (but german), so the sentence “And what about your women?” doesn’t make much sense here.
3) Why do american fans (fans from other nations in general) always have to make a competition out of it? Maybe american swimmers will take over the top of the world rankings in all events, but how would that change anything about the fact that… Read more »

korn
7 years ago

Excellent swim and time! It is alot harder to repeat that with people of equal speed making waves, etc. Ben had a huge lead from the get go and clean water the whole way. Still a great swim!

sven
Reply to  korn
7 years ago

On the 50 I think that’s only a factor if you get behind off the start. If the competition is roughly even with you, then by the time their waves have gotten over to your lane, you’ve moved on.

IMs for days
7 years ago

Just for perspective:
This makes him the tied for the second fastest man ever in textile, along with Cielo. It is also the second fastest time ever swum in textile, only behind Manaudous 21.19 from 2015. Just like the 2 people people I just mentioned, he seems to be a pure sprinter with lots of raw speed but little endurance.

iLikePsych
Reply to  IMs for days
7 years ago

Surprised the article doesn’t make a bigger deal of that. If you didn’t know times, you may not think it’s that special of a time.

ct swim fan
7 years ago

That’s a nice time. What else does he swim? I could not find his name in any other event.

Dee
Reply to  ct swim fan
7 years ago

48.52 100fr (but only 50.50 this week… Seems Gibson has him targeting 50s, much like he did with Halsall).
22.93 50fl

korn
Reply to  Dee
7 years ago

Not sure if they are up for it, but GB could put together a pretty good 400 free relay….Guy, Proud, Scott, and someone else….Proud? Not so sure if these guys have the desire to swim it.

NYJOHN
Reply to  korn
7 years ago

Unless they put all their top four sprinters swimming their best in the prelims, GBR would not even advance to final.

Remember how Brazil had Cielo and all those sprinters and never advanced to finals in all those years?

commonwombat
Reply to  NYJOHN
7 years ago

Tend to agree with John. you’re putting forward a notional case but selectors need to make decisions based on how they are performing now and aside from Scott’s sub 48, there is only one other current sub49.

Even in this best case scenario, this 4X100 is marginal as regards making the final. You then have to take into account what other swims these guys are going to have during the meet (individual & other relays) and the cost/benefit analysis just doesn’t come out on the right side.

This time next year or the year after and they have 4 or more sub 49men, then its a different matter

sven
Reply to  korn
7 years ago

Teach Peaty to swim freestyle. Clearly he’s got the fast twitch ability and the metabolic conditioning to finish a 100, just fix his sprint free technique and he might be able to put up some decent times.

About Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh is a former NCAA swimmer at the University of Arizona (2013-2015) and the University of Florida (2011-2013). While her college swimming career left a bit to be desired, her Snapchat chin selfies and hot takes on Twitter do not disappoint. She's also a high school graduate of The …

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