Swim England Competitive Swimming Hub
Peaty secures Great Britain’s first medal of the World Swimming Championships
December 15, 2022Adam Peaty got Great Britain’s medal tally at the 2022 FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) off the mark after an impressive swim in Melbourne.
Peaty took the bronze medal in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke as he returns to competition for the first time since the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatics Centre.
In a competitive field Peaty got off the blocks well and settled into second place at the halfway stage behind American Nic Fink.
Italy’s Nicola Martinenghi then powered through to draw alongside Fink with Peaty just behind and looking to pounce as the leading trio entered the final turn.
Fink had enough to hold on however after gaining time on that turn as he set a 55.88 to become the new world champion.
Martinenghi came home in second despite a long stretch to the wall from Peaty who had to settle for bronze finishing in a time of 56.25.
Peaty’s effort knocked 0.17 off his semi-final time from yesterday as he added a bronze to go alongside his three silver short course world championship medals throughout his illustrious career.
Speaking to Nick Hope for the World Aquatics channel after the race Peaty said he’s hungry for more success.
He said: “I don’t get bronze very often so that will be a weird one for the Wikipedia.
“But it’s my first competition that I count since the Olympics. The Commonwealths I was still just testing because of my foot.
“It’s exciting to be back in an arena and I’m just enjoying it, enjoying the sport but this is my first meet of the year.
“I am disappointed but I’m not going to allow myself to be because some of the guys I’m racing have come off so much racing at the world cups so I put myself in a really hard block. It is what it is. I am what I am and they just out-skilled me there.
“I’m looking forward to a long course season after this week. I’ve got to be uncomfortable and I’ve got to be challenged if I want to go for that world record in long course so this is the fight I need and I just feel pure anger which is when I’m very dangerous.
“I’m loving it (competing again). I’ve been through a lot, a number of personal things that I’ve had to shake up because we’ve seen if you don’t give 110% to this sport it will take 110% out of you and you lose.
“So I’ve had to make some very tough decisions to make sure these next 18 months are the best I can have in my life and my career. And that has to start with the foundation of enjoyment because you can’t do anything without that first.
“I’m looking forward to this Paris cycle now, being back in this crowds is something I needed but now I’m back it’s great to race out here.”
Britain’s women combine for sixth
Great Britain’s women finished sixth in the 4x50m Freestyle relay event.
The team of Anna Hopkin, Isabella Hindley, Imogen Clark and Abbie Wood combined to complete the race in a time of 1:37.11.
Hopkin was exceptional in the opening leg for the British team as she pushed into a narrow lead before handing over to Hindley.
Hindley and Clark battled hard through the middle legs but the favourites in the centre lanes pushed their way to the front as the British team dropped down to sixth.
Wood rounded out the race for the quartet and held on to that position just ahead of Japan and New Zealand as the team finished in a commendable sixth place.
The United States of America took gold, setting a new championships record in the process with a 1:33.89.
Personal best for Dean
Elsewhere Tom Dean set a new personal best as he finished eighth in a fast paced Men’s 100m Freestyle final.
Dean’s time of a 46.11 took 0.09 off his semi-final effort from yesterday as he finished just under a second off the new World Champion Kyle Chalmers (Australia).
Chalmers finished in 45.16 which was a new championship record to run out victorious ahead of a strong field.
Dean also competed in the heats for the 400m Freestyle event in the morning session where he finished 10th overall after a strong showing. He just missed out on a place in the final after setting a time of 3:39.79.
Daniel Jervis also competed in the heats for the 400m Freestyle as he set the 15th fastest time adding to his impressive display on the opening day where he was sixth in the 1500m Freestyle.
Also in the morning session, Britain’s Medi Harris missed out on a place in the Women’s 50m Backstroke semi-finals by just 0.14 as she set the 17th quickest time in the heats.
You can catch all the results from the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) here and you can watch the events live on the All Aquatics Streaming Platform.
