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Adam Peaty sets Games record to defend Commonwealth title

Adam Peaty sets Games record to defend Commonwealth title

April 7, 2018

Adam Peaty set a Games record to defend his Commonwealth 100m Breaststroke title at the Gold Coast 2018.

The Olympic champion was red-hot favourite for his main event and delivered in style, leading from start to finish on the way to victory in 58.84.

James Wilby – who had already lifted the 200m Breast title in Australia – stormed home in the lane next to Peaty to take silver on a PB 59.43.

The pair became Team England’s first one-two in the pool at this Games, while Peaty delivered England’s seventh swimming gold in three days.

“Even though it’s a gold medal and four years undefeated, I’m not happy with that performance,” said Peaty, whose world record sits at 57.13 from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

“It’s not the best version of me. I just want to go out there on the 50m and try and get that better version.

“It’s been a big learning curve here. It’s the first time I felt not in control of my race. I was thinking about the end result instead of the process. What was so good in Rio is that I was focused on the process and not the time.

“I wasn’t at my best but I’ll rectify it, think about where it went wrong in training and get better.

“I think there’s a bit of pressure and expectation I put on myself. In the heats and semis I didn’t feel the crowd and I didn’t feel like I was swimming with the crowd.

“I haven’t trained my mind for this in April yet so it’s a big learning curve for us. Tonight it was all about defending the title and staying four years undefeated.”

Wilby surges home in PB for English one-two

Peaty was in no mood for hanging around on the blocks, and was quickest into the water, surging ahead to the turn in 26.74.

And while the field pressed and tried to reel him in, his powerful display kept the likes of South Africa’s Cameron Van Der Burgh and Australia’s Jake Packard at bay.

Instead it was teammate Wilby who came closest to the world record holder, finishing like a stream train after turning fifth fastest at 50m.

Wilby ducked under his PB of 59.61, becoming the third fastest British men’s 100m Breaststroke swimmer in history with his effort.

“I’m happy with that,” said Wilby. “After the 200m on the first day, I’m happy to come away with a second medal and a one-two for England.

“It was quite a tough one getting over the 200m in a short time. Fortunately for tonight I put myself in a decent position to get the silver.

“I feel like I haven’t been where I want in the last few years but I’ve got myself sorted this season and looking towards Tokyo 2020, this is a really good springboard for me.”

Van Der Burgh was left to settle for bronze on 59.44 while England’s Andrew Willis was eighth in 1:01.13.

Jacob Peters impresses again on Commonwealth debut

While Peaty will be losing count of his international titles, 17-year old Jacob Peters left another sign of his potential as a major contender as he finished fifth in the 200m Butterfly final.

The Poole SC swimmer had already set a British age group record 24.00 to place seventh in the 50m Fly on the Gold Coast.

And the teenager impressed again over the 200m Fly, holding his position in fourth through the first three lengths before slipping one place down the last 50m.

Peters’ effort of 1:57.75 was the second fastest of his life and saw him fall just 1.15 seconds shy of the podium places.

Anna Hopkin was also in final action on day three, finishing seventh in the 50m Freestyle.

The Bath University swimmer, who has already medalled in Australia with the 4x100m Freestyle Relay quartet, set her fastest time of the competition in the final.

Swimming from lane one in the splash and dash, Hopkin touched in 25.28 as Australia’s Cate Campbell won gold in a Games record 23.78.

Gold Coast 2018 Results and Schedule

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