James Guy won 200m Freestyle gold and Adam Peaty set a 50m Breaststroke world record as the British team continued their explosive start to the Kazan 2015 World Championships.
Having claimed 400m Freestyle silver on the opening night in Russia, Guy went one better with a British record in the 200m Freestyle, taking the GB medal tally to five with the first major title of his career.
The 19-year-old swam a patient race, turning third with 50m to go before surging into the lead in the final length to take the touch in 1:45.14 ahead of China’s Olympic silver medallist Sun Yang and Germany’s world record holder Paul Biedermann.
But while he turned the tables on Sun after the Chinese swimmer beat him to the touch in the 400m Free, Guy insisted his only focus for the final had been to stick to his own pacing strategy.
“I never thought about beating Sun Yang or anyone,” said Guy. “I just thought about swimming my own race and getting my tactics right and if I beat anyone it was a bonus.
“I never thought I’d even make the final. The main focus for me was the 400m Free and I was so happy with silver but I did want to go a little faster in that final.
“Obviously I never thought I’d win the 200m as well so it’s a nice feeling.
“There’s more there for me though. You look at Ryan Lochte’s underwater phases and he’s like a dolphin. So if I had them, I could go even faster.”
A matter of minutes after Guy landed his second medal of the Championships, 20-year-old Peaty laid down his claims for a second prize with an eye-catching swim in the 50m Breaststroke semi-finals.
Having won 100m Breaststroke gold last night, the World debutant sliced 0.2 seconds off his PB to win his semi in 26.42 with South Africa’s two-time champion Cameron Van Der Burgh second fastest through.
“I feel pretty stoked really,” said Peaty. “The heats this morning were so easy and I just chilled out this afternoon – I wasn’t too tense.
“I went out there, improved my start and just let the swimming swim and that’s what I do all year round.
“It’s going to be a good final. Cameron’s a great guy and it’s going to be a great race tomorrow.”
Chris Walker-Hebborn, Liam Tancock and Lauren Quigley were all in 100m Backstroke final action on day three.
Having qualified eighth fastest for the final, Walker-Hebborn secured his best position at a World Championships as he improved his position up to fifth with a gutsy swim in the final.
The 25-year old went faster than his times to win both Commonwealth and European gold last season while Tancock, competing at his fifth World Championships, was eighth.
Meanwhile, 20-year old Quigley also improved her ranking as she finished seventh from lane eighth in the women's final.
Siobhan-Marie O’Connor was the only other Brit in action on the third day of swimming in Russia, finishing 10th in the 200m Freestyle semi-finals.
Competing just 24 hours after her bronze in the 200m Individual Medley, the 19-year old was just 0.35 seconds shy of a final berth as she touched sixth in her semi.