SM
Oman vs. Qatar: 9 hrs 10 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Adam Peaty eases into 100m breaststroke final

:Headline: Adam Peaty eases into 100m breaststroke final:
The 26-year-old from Uttoxeter is overwhelming favourite to defend the crown he won in Rio five years ago.
Sports Mole

Adam Peaty stayed on course to become the first British swimmer to retain an Olympic title after sailing into the final of the men’s 100 metres breaststroke alongside compatriot James Wilby.

The 26-year-old from Uttoxeter is overwhelming favourite to defend the crown he won in Rio five years ago and he recorded the fastest qualifying time in the semi-finals, clocking 57.63 seconds at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.

Wilby also booked his spot in Monday’s final – where all eyes will be on whether Peaty can better his world record time of 56.88secs – after finishing third in the other heat with a time of exactly 59 seconds.

Adam Peaty is overwhelming favourite to retain his Olympic title (Adam Davy/PA)

There were to be no swimming medals for Team GB on Sunday, with Max Litchfield finishing an agonising fourth in the men’s 400m individual medley, Aimee Willmott placing seventh in the corresponding women’s final and the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team of Lucy Hope, Anna Hopkin, Abbie Wood and Freya Anderson settling for fifth.

But Peaty, who is unbeaten over this distance in seven years, finished more than half a second clear of closest challenger Arno Kamminga, the only swimmer other than Peaty to breach the 58-second barrier in this event.

Peaty said: “I knew what I needed to do. It really is about swimming in the semi-final. It’s not really about proving anything, putting any little markers down because I know a lot of energy (is needed) in the final.

“Every day has new challenges, new victories. As long as the sun rises and my eyes are open anything can happen. Obviously Olympic finals are Olympic finals but I’m the best racer in the world and I’m looking forward to it.

Peaty debuted a clean shaven look on Sunday after sporting a moustache on Saturday night (Adam Davy/PA)

“I love to race, I’m a scrapper and I know when it comes down to the last 15 I’ve got something no one else has got. It’s just seeing how that replicates in the final.”

There was some speculation the swift turnaround between Saturday evening’s heats and Sunday morning’s finals session may have inhibited all competitors and Peaty admitted he has found it challenging to adjust.

He said: “It’s very strange, very strange. It’s definitely new. I’m just adapting to it, I guess.

“We’ve obviously tried to race as much as we can, trying to put an emphasis on the heats in the morning to replicate a final but there’s only so much you can do.

James Wilby is also into the men’s 100m breaststroke final (Adam Davy/PA)

“When you come to the Olympics, you’ve got way more walking, you’ve got to wait longer for food, wait longer for races. It’s all about controlling the controllables but enjoying that ride at the same time.”

Peaty, sporting a clean shaven look after sporting a moustache in Saturday’s heats, reiterated how peculiar he has found the last couple of days without the usual cheering throng of supporters.

He added: “It’s very different out there, it doesn’t feel like an Olympics, which is very strange because you think you can come here and rely on that ‘oomph’.

“But there’s not many people in the crowd because they’re all athletes, coaches and media, which is very different. But I know in the final I’m going to have to try and make my own story up.”

In the evening’s heats, Luke Greenbank missed out on qualification for the men’s 100m backstroke semi-finals after finishing sixth in his heat, while the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay team of Matthew Richards, James Guy, Joe Litchfield and Jacob Whittle placed fifth as they were unable to secure a place in the final.

Cassie Wild and Kathleen Dawson eased into the semi-finals of the women’s 100m backstroke, Tom Dean and Duncan Scott did likewise in the men’s 200m freestyle, as did Sarah Vasey in the women’s 100m breaststroke.

body check tags ::

amp_article__456818 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-07-25 13:34:49:
html db last update - 2021-07-25 13:34:49 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Adam Peaty James Wilby Swimming
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
"City and Pep haven't adapted": Is Guardiola's job in danger?
Liverpool 'dealt Pulisic blow' as Milan take decisive action
Valencia 'meet release clause' in bid to appoint Championship manager

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool16123137162139
2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Diaz 'makes decision over Liverpool future' amid Barca links

1

D'

Heading the other way? Chelsea readying £49.8m bid for Milan 'revelation'

2

HT

Preview: Cheltenham vs. Crewe - prediction, team news, lineups

3

PC

"City and Pep haven't adapted": Is Guardiola's job in danger?

4

&A

Potential Chelsea exit? Barcelona 'offered chance' to sign forward

5

PC

Liverpool 'dealt Pulisic blow' as Milan take decisive action

6

L'

Valencia 'meet release clause' in bid to appoint Championship manager

7

V'

Amorim points finger at Rashford's team over bombshell interview

8

AP

Big Brother house 'to be relocated in 2025'

9

BB

Monday's Serie A predictions including Inter Milan vs. Como

10

MS


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .