Adam Peaty Shatters 50 Breast World Record By Three Tenths In 26.10

2017 FINA WORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Coming off a big win in the 100 breaststroke on day 2, Great Britain’sย Adam Peaty absolutely shattered his own 50 breast world record at day 3 prelims in Budapest.

Swimming in the 9th of 9 heats, some quick times had already been thrown down, including the 4th fastest swim in history by former world record holderย Cameron van der Burgh in 26.54.

Peaty destroyed his heat, touching in 26.10 to take over three tenths off the existing world record of 26.42. That swim was done by Peaty two years ago at the Championships in Kazan, and it’s really no surprise he breaks it. Opening up the 100 breast at both the Rio Olympics and these World Championships, he was close to that world record, so it was only a matter of time.

Here in Budapest, he was out in 26.60 in the semi-final and 26.50 in the final. In Rio, his three opening splits were 26.61, 26.69 and 26.71.

Peaty previously owned the six fastest swims in history, but with van der Burgh’s performance he’s now down to four, but owns eight of the top ten. van der Burgh set a new African Record to qualify 2nd, andย Joao Gomes (BRA) set a new South American Record in 3rd (26.67).

Top 10 All-Time Swims, Men’s 50 Breaststroke

  1. Adam Peaty, 26.10, 2017
  2. Adam Peaty, 26.42, 2015
  3. Adam Peaty, 26.48, 2017
  4. Adam Peaty, 26.51, 2015
  5. Cameron van der Burgh, 26.54, 2017
  6. Adam Peaty, 26.61, 2016 / Adam Peaty, 26.61, 2017 / Adam Peaty, 26.61, 2017
  7. Cameron van der Burgh, 26.62, 2015 / Adam Peaty, 26.62, 2017

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THEO
6 years ago

Peaty may usher in an era where we see breaststroke specialize much more between 50/100 and 200, especially in an elite LCM context. In yards, the distances are more similar in length, and pullouts are a great equalizer – they are fairly similar in technique and importance across all distances. In long course, 50 breast and 200 breast look a lot more like two different strokes. Then again, Peaty could just pop a 2:05 next year and prove me wrong. In exchange for swimmers like Hansen, Kitajima, and Shanteau, we have these guys who are either all 100 (Peaty, VDB) or all 200 (Watanabe, Yamaguchi, Prenot, Balandin, etc)

Rafael
Reply to  THEO
6 years ago

Peaty already went 2:08.. maybe he just wants to put his 50 on a sub-26 then might shift focus to gun for having all Breast WR..

Thomas Selig
Reply to  Rafael
6 years ago

You could be right. He’s talked about doing a lot of speed work this year, and I do wonder if the idea is to really focus on the 50, smash the record out of sight, and then build up the 200 over the next three years looking towards Tokyo.

JP input is too short
Reply to  Thomas Selig
6 years ago

It would be interesting to see if he could adjust his stroke enough to be top of the world in the 200. Obviously he has an elite time, not quite to the level of the top handful though. His stroke rate is just so fast though, and his speed is so dependent on that – somebody like Cordes who goes from the 50 to the 200 has such a long stroke that he doesn’t need to change much to switch distances.

Rafael
Reply to  JP input is too short
6 years ago

If he build his endurance even more he may be able to keep that ungodly tempo of his… no crazy to think someone like could go 2:05 with proper endurance..

JP input is too short
Reply to  Rafael
6 years ago

I could see that in short course. Long course is another animal… that’s a whole lot of pulls on that last 50!

JP input is too short
Reply to  JP input is too short
6 years ago

By “that” I mean Peaty being best in the world at the 200. Not a 2:05. Obviously that’s already happened in sc.

Philip
6 years ago

Peaty is the most dominate male swimmer currently. He has no peers.

Rafael
Reply to  Philip
6 years ago

It all depends on what their back will deliver.. If he delivers a 53 low it might as well be over for US, if he delivers his 54 low things will get on How good Peaty is, and how well Dressel + Adrian will be against Guy + Scott..

If CWH flops to a 55 on 100 back, GBR might lose to China and might even be in danger near Brazil, Russia and Japan..

JP input is too short
Reply to  Philip
6 years ago

For GB to be able to hang with the US in the medley, most of the follow things have to happen:
1. Murphy has to be pretty far off Olympics standard – he actually represents a bigger advantage over CWH than Peaty does over Cordes, IMO.
2. Dressel has to be showing some fatigue from his schedule – he’s swimming lights-out thus far, obviously.
3. Guy has to be sub-51, and pretty solidly sub-51.
4. Scott has to outsplit Adrian. Really he should be able to – he just popped a best time in the 200 in semis and that ain’t even his best event.

Or maybe the US would be better off with Murphy/Cordes/Phillips/Dressel? We’ll… Read more ยป

JP input is too short
Reply to  JP input is too short
6 years ago

Or I guess Grevers gets the relay spot, huh?

Otispunkmeyer
6 years ago

There is no answer to Peaty is there.

VDB dropped out the 100 to focus on the 50 and he did a best ever time. But it was only as quick as Peaty managed halfway through the 100 and now he’s just turned up the wick for the 50 and demolished any hope anyone had left. The lad is unreal.

bobo gigi
6 years ago

26.10 ๐Ÿ˜† ๐Ÿ˜† ๐Ÿ˜† ๐Ÿ˜†

anonymoose
6 years ago

you could add peatys 50 spilt times going out in the 100s here. 26.60 and 26.50 from his semi final and final 100s here in budapest

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam โ€ฆ

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