Peaty ‘Wasn’t Even Up’ For 50 Heats, While Proud Still In Shock

2017 FINA WORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

British breaststroking wizard Adam Peaty crushed a new world record time this morning in the men’s 50m breaststroke. After already dominating the 100m event last night by winning gold in 57.47, the Loughborough-based Olympic champion cranked out a morning swim today of 26.10 to hack a solid .32 off of his own previous record of 26.42 from Kazan.

Per the interview below, the world record came as a surprise to Peaty, who said that he ‘wasn’t even up for’ the race this morning. Must be nice, right?

Another Brit who set the pool on fire was Ben Proud, the newly-minted 50m butterfly world champion from last night. Proud soared to the top of the podium, beating the likes of American Caeleb Dressel and Singapore’s Joseph Schooling in the process. Proud touched in 22.75 to earn a new British national record.

Speaking with the press after the race, Proud described his immediate feeling of not having realized he actually won the race.

“At first I didn’t realise I had won. I was waiting for someone else to start celebrating, but when no one did, I looked on the scoreboard and saw my name on top.”

Becoming world champion and feeling the gold medal around his neck, Proud said, “For it to happen today is amazing, I was never going to give up on that dream, I was going to keep going into my mid-30s.”

I was shocked at first, its a dream come true.”

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SHM
7 years ago

Feel like the heats is the best time for him to break records because during the finals theres so much pressure in the heats its like a time trial just him vs the clock

sven
Reply to  SHM
7 years ago

On the other hand, even in finals, it’s still Peaty vs. the clock. Dude probably hasn’t felt pressured by another swimmer in the 50 or 100 breast in like 2 years.

JP input is too short
7 years ago

This British national team is really likeable.

Thomas Selig
7 years ago

TBH I think we all fancied a WR coming: his front half speed in the 100 (which he said felt “easy”), and this is the first time he’s swum a fully tapered 50 since Kazan. 26.10 is still mind-boggling though, especially considering he didn’t have that good a start (even by his not-so-high standards), and also a bit of a glide into the finish.

ellie
7 years ago

Proud of him.

75M FREE
Reply to  ellie
7 years ago

Probably never be(e)n prouder.

Coach B
Reply to  75M FREE
7 years ago

This is certainly an accomplishment Ben can be proud of got years to come with that fast field.

About Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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