Watch Duncan Scott Become First British 100 Freestyler Under 48 Sec

2017 BRITISH SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

On night 3 of the 2017 British Swimming Championships in Sheffield, 19-year-old Duncan Scott made history as the first British man to clock a 100m freestyle time under the 49-second threshold. Already having earned the national record of 48.01 while finishing 5th at the 2016 Olympic Games, Scott shaved .11 off of that best time tonight, touching in 49.70 for a new record, a British title and the top mark in the world this season.

Watch the race unfold from start to finish, where Scott takes off on his own race and never looks back, automatically qualifying for Budapest in the process.

Video courtesy of British Swimming.

 

As originally reported:

MEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – FINAL

  • FINA A – 48.93
  • British 1st place standard – 47.91
  • British consideration standard – 48.33
  • The Podium:

The men’s 100m freestyle capped off a huge night of racing for the British, one that saw 2 national records fall in the span of 2 hours. After Max Litchfield‘s inspiring performance in the 400m IM, 19-year-old Duncan Scott from the University of Stirling proved once again he is indeed the real sprinting deal by becoming the first British man ever under the 48-second mark in the 100m free.

Entering the meet with the national record of 48.01 from his 5th place finish in Rio, Scott put the field on notice this morning with a super quick 48.58, the only sub-49 second out behind Adam Barrett.  But Scott fired off the big guns this evening, opening in 23.14 and closing in 24.76 to collect a national title and clear the automatic consideration time. Scott also now ranks as #1 in the world, ahead of Aussie maverick Cameron McEvoy.

Barrett bowed out of the 100m freestyle final, presumably to focus on his prime event the 100m butterfly, so that left the Edinburgh duo of Jack Thorpe and Kieran McGuckin in a good spot to take the minor medals. Thorpe finished in 49.65 for silver, with McGuckin just .03 behind for bronze.

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Alex Mason
7 years ago

Don’t like his grabby stroke. Looks like he is trying to climb himself out of the water. But it works! So who am I to say otherwise. Have a friend who has a similarly crabby stroke, breathes twos…Looks really messy but he flies along still.

I note at the end of his race, maybe the last 5 meters he switches it up completely. Head down, no breathing, wind milling with near straight arms on the recovery. Interesting strategy.

Swimsweden
7 years ago

Definetly a kid with talent! I his freestyle kick is amazing, it even increases by the second 50. His underwaters are decent and I like how he uses the same approach as Nathan Adrian and some other great swimmers throughout the years, as he stops breathing and transitions into a straight arm freestlye with 12 meters to go. Look forward to see this kid swim in Budapest and the next coming years!

M Palota
7 years ago

That’s a truly scrawny kid! Wow… Looks like a slightly anorexic Cam McEvoy!!

Excellent turn, great underwater and tremendous speed endurance at the end of his race. Great swim!

Bigly
7 years ago

The relatively scrawny sprinters are amazing — Ervin, McEvoy, now Scott. It’s interesting how such vastly different body types (Adrian vs these guys) can get virtually the same results. Of course, PVDH was the first scrawny guy (6’4″ 176 lbs) under 48. Curious to see whether more muscle for Scott necessarily means more 100 LCM free speed.

NYJOHN
Reply to  Bigly
7 years ago

I agree. More muscles would not necessarily translate to faster times, it depends on each individual swimmer’s body shape, genetics, and how they swim.

McEvoy is the smallest and lightest of all top sprinters and yet he’s the fastest ever in 100 and among the fastest on 50.

KyB
7 years ago

great turn and breakout, never loses momentum

Bigly
Reply to  KyB
7 years ago

Good underwater off the wall compared to most other world class 100 guys.

Illinois Swim Fan
7 years ago

When are The US trials for Worlds?

Zanna
Reply to  Illinois Swim Fan
7 years ago

June 27th

50free
7 years ago

I’m not the pools not regulation size but it seriously looks short to me. It might be the lane lines or the flags or something

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  50free
7 years ago

u look short too with your 50free

Bigly
Reply to  ERVINFORTHEWIN
7 years ago

cool down

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Bigly
7 years ago

hey , blast off LOL

dude
7 years ago

what an incredible kick. the tempo on his feet is crazy compared to the rest of the field. Take notes, children.

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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