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Sarah Vasey storms to sprint breaststroke gold

Sarah Vasey storms to sprint breaststroke gold

April 6, 2018

Sarah Vasey won 50m Breaststroke gold to claim England’s fifth swimming title of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The Loughborough NC swimmer swam her fastest time of the competition, taking the touch in 30.60.

Vasey’s victory added to golds from Aimee Willmott, Tom Hamer, Ellie Robinson and James Wilby from the opening day of competition on the Gold Coast.

The 21-year old trains alongside Adam Peaty in Mel Marshall’s performance squad at Loughborough, and made her senior debut at last year’s World Championships in Budapest.

She looked at home on the world stage last year, reaching the finals of both the 50m and 100m Breaststroke in Hungary, finishing sixth in the former.

And Vasey put in another bold performance to take her first senior international title.

After a slow start, the English swimmer hauled in Jamaica’s fastest qualifier and defending silver medallist Alia Atkinson.

Atkinson came home in 30.76 for silver while Australia’s Leiston Pickett – champion from the last two Games – was third on 30.78.

Wanted to join the gold rush

“I just wanted to join the gold rush that went on last night for the English team,” said Vasey.

“I knew I was in a good position, but I didn’t want to get het up about it. I was just thinking about the process.

“My finishes in the heat and the semi weren’t great so I just knew if I nailed my finish then I’d be in a really good position.

“Last night was so good to watch. I share a room with Aimee [Willmott] so when she came back and I saw her medal I thought ‘I want one of those’.

“I cried when James [Wilby] won. I was an emotional wreck. It’s just nice when you see how hard someone has worked and they finally get the glory they deserve. It’s really inspiring.”

Jacob Peters lowers age group record in maiden final

Poole’s Jacob Peters also impressed in his first Commonwealth Games final, setting a personal best to finish seventh in the 50m Butterfly.

The 17-year old lowered his own British age group record from the semi-finals, stopping the clock on 24.00.

South Africa’s four-time Olympic medallist Chad Le Close won gold on 23.37.

James Guy was back in the pool after his 400m Free bronze on the opening night, finishing fourth in an exciting 200m Freestyle final.

The English swimmer – who won world gold over 200m Free three years ago – was up with the pace in the final, turning in first with 50m to go.

But Guy couldn’t quite hold to his podium position, with Australia claiming a one-two and Scotland’s Duncan Scott taking third. Guy touched in 1:46.40, trailing Scott by just 0.1 seconds.

Gold Coast 2018 Results and Schedule

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