Peaty sets stage for third clean sweep at Europeans

8 Aug 2018

Adam Peaty took his third European title of Glasgow 2018 with victory in the 50m breaststroke, again breaking his own Championship Record.

Peaty, already champion in the 100m breaststroke and 4x100m mixed medley, took the title comfortably, with Italy's Fabio Scozzoli closest to the 11-time European gold medalist - looking to make it 12 unbeaten in the men's medley relay on the final day of competition.

He said: "It's three out of three at the moment and hopefully that streak will continue tomorrow.

"I'm trying to enjoy it, and hopefully I will have a tussle on my hands tomorrow.

"As you get more mature you realise it's not about managing your time at these meets, it's about managing your energy. To be consistent in that you have to be mature."

Ben Proud broke a Championship Record four years older than himself in the 50m freestyle,  setting a new PB in the process of 21.11, and making him the third fastest man ever over the distance. Team mate Tom Fannon came 12th in the semis.

Peaty's was the only medal of the evening despite some close fought finals featuring the British swimmers. Siobhan-Marie O'Connor was touched out by Switzerland's Maria Ugolkova in a final length of the 200m IM that saw Katinka Hosszu excel from fourth position to the gold medal. Aimee Wilmott finished seventh.

Freya Anderson, going for her fourth medal of Glasgow 2018 also finished fourth in the 100m freestyle, but despite missing a medal the 17-year-old did break her own European Junior Record in the process.

Imogen Clark broke her own national record in qualifying for the 50m breaststroke final, with a time of 30.04 and said she hoped to become the first British woman under the 30 second barrier.

She said: "I'm so excited for the final - it makes my belly tingle thinking about it, but in a good way.

"I'm used to just doing national events and coming out and it just being my dad shouting for me, so to come out to this, I'm buzzing."

Sarah Vasey was ninth back, missing out on the final by one spot.

James Guy progressed to the final of the 100m butterfly in fifth place after coming second in his semi-final but Kat Greenslade, herself a double-medalist at this meet, could only battle to a 13th spot in the 200m backstroke semi-final,