BUDAPEST, Hungary: Adam Peaty blasted his way into the men’s 50m breaststroke semi-finals on Tuesday by lowering his own world-record to shake up the morning heats at the world aquatic championships.
The 22-year-old clocked 26.10 seconds, lowering his own mark of 26.42 set at the world champs in Kazan two years ago.“I wasn’t going for a world record, I was just trying to qualify for the semis,” said Peaty, who says he can go even faster.
“That world record was two years old, so it was kind of due another push on.“Last night gave me the confidence as I was out on 26.50 (for the first 50m).“I wanted to get that best lane for the semi, we’ll push it on for the final.”
It is the second world-record to fall at the world championships here after Sarah Sjostrom swam the 100m freestyle in 51.71secs on Sunday.Peaty’s main rival in Wednesday’s final looks to be Cameron van der Burgh, who was only 0.44secs behind in the heats.
Following Peaty’s exploits, Katie Ledecky of the United States cruised into the women’s 200m freestyle semi-finals.She was the second fastest qualifier behind Italy’s Frederic Pellegrini who clocked 1:56.07.
Australia’s Emma McKeon, who won silver in the women’s 100m butterfly on Monday, and Katinka Hosszu, who won the women’s 200m IM gold, were just behind.
“I didn’t get much sleep last night, then I missed my bus getting here this morning,” revealed McKeon.“It wasn’t really a rush, I was probably a bit too relaxed, I just got the next one.
“It’s just taking it one step at a time, kinda waiting out the day,” said Ledecky, who won her heat.“I knew where I had to be, the only thing I wanted to do this morning was get a (good) lane for tonight.
“There’s a lot going on, there’s medal ceremonies, warm down, all those little things.“I’m just trying to limit the walking and staying off my feet as much as I can.”Chinese superstar Sun Yang won the men’s 200m freestyle gold to add to his Olympic title in the same event.
Sun touched the wall first in one minute 44.39 seconds with Townley Haas of the United States taking silver, at 0.65sec back, while Russia’s Aleksandr Krasnykh earned bronze at 0.84.
This was Sun’s second gold of these championships after his victory in the 400m freestyle final on Sunday.He will bid for the treble in Wednesday’s 800m freestyle final — the event he has dominated for the last three world championships since 2011 in Shanghai.
Sun timed his 200m race to perfection.He was fourth at the halfway point, but had caught leader and defending champion James Guy of Great Britain by the final turn and powered home to victory.
His win means the 25-year-old Sun is now the 200m freestyle champion at both the worlds and Olympics, after his victory at the Rio de Janeiro Games last year.The freestyle expert now has nine gold medals to his name spanning four world championships.
Australia’s Mack Horton, the Olympic 400m champion who lost Sunday’s final to Sun, dropped out of the 800m to focus on Saturday’s 1500m freestyle heats.Local favourite Laszlo Cseh of Hungary was the fastest qualifier into the men’s 200m butterfly semi-finals on Tuesday night.
“It’s crazy swimming in front of this crowd,” said Cseh, who’s heat was welcomed by a deafening roar.Japan’s Daiya Seto, the 400m medley world champion in 2013 and 2015, was second fastest.
The 32-year-old Cseh, who won his first world championships gold medal back in 2005, clocked one min, 54.08secs as he looks to defend his title.South Africa’s Chad le Clos, the 2012 Olympic champion, was fifth fastest at 1.82secs behind.“I knew Laszlo was going to be quick, he likes to go home fast in the morning,” said Le Clos, who dropped out of the 200m freestyle heats to focus on the fly.