Commonwealth Games: England's Adam Peaty wins 100m breaststroke gold
Last updated on .From the section Commonwealth Games
| 2018 Commonwealth Games |
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| Venue: Gold Coast, Australia Dates: 4-15 April |
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England's Adam Peaty was "nowhere near pleased" despite defending his 100m breaststroke Commonwealth title and extending his unbeaten record.
Peaty, 23, clocked a Games record of 58.84 seconds to finish in front of compatriot and 200m breaststroke champion James Wilby.
Wilby (59.43) was just ahead of South Africa's Cameron van der Burgh (59.44).
"It's a gold, but I wanted a 57 in there," said Peaty, who is unbeaten in the discipline since the 2014 Games.
"I was miles off it. That's just who I am. I didn't perform as I wanted to tonight," he told BBC Radio 5 live.
"I have a high expectation of myself - that wasn't good enough from me. I didn't give the performance I wanted to give tonight.
"I'm not happy just winning. I'm happy dominating, pushing world records."
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'Four years undefeated'
Olympic, world and European champion Peaty led after the first split but did not challenge his own world record of 57.13 set at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
"It was all about the race, not the time. I'm now four years undefeated," Peaty said.
"I've ticked everything I wanted to do tonight. My team-mates have kept me on my toes. It's nowhere near my personal best, but it was all about the race."
Wilby, who had won a surprise gold in the 200m breaststroke, finished strongly to edge out Van der Burgh.
Van der Burgh is a renowned quick starter but after being edged out by 0.01 by Peaty off the blocks, was unable to make up the ground.
"I'm happy with that. It was rough getting over the 200m yesterday and I just tried to keep along with Adam. Happy to get the one-two for England," said Wilby.
Scottish duo Ross Murdoch and Craig Benson finished fifth and sixth respectively, with England's Andrew Willis eighth.
Le Clos makes Games history
Earlier, there was better news for South Africa in the pool as Chad le Clos won a third straight title in the 200m butterfly.
Le Clos swam a Games record of 1:54.00 to claim his second gold and his sixth career Commonwealth title and 14th medal overall.
He became the first man to win three consecutive gold medals in the same event at the Commonwealth Games.
Le Clos won 50m butterfly gold on Friday, but his bid to win five more medals to become the all-time leading Games medallist ended when he failed to reach the podium in the 200m freestyle and the 4x100m freestyle relay.
Scott, Renshaw, Tutton & relay quartet win medals
Scotland's Duncan Scott added to his men's 200m freestyle and 4x100m freestyle relay bronze medals with another third-place finish in Australia behind Le Clos and Australia's David Morgan.
England's James Guy, who qualified in eighth place, withdrew from the final because he was being treated for dehydration.
South Africa's Tatjana Schoenmaker won the women's 200m breaststroke gold ahead of England's Molly Renshaw and Chloe Tutton of Wales.
In the women's 50m freestyle final, Australia's Cate Campbell claimed gold ahead of sister Bronte Campbell and Canada's Taylor Ruck, who shared the silver medal.
Cate Campbell swam the third fastest time in history to win in a Games record of 23.78.
Ruck quickly returned to the pool to claim bronze in the women's 100m backstroke final behind Canada's Kylie Masse and Australia's Emily Seebohm.
Australia won the women's 4x200m freestyle relay final ahead of Canada and England's Eleanor Faulkner, Siobhan Marie O'Connor, Freya Anderson and Holly Hibbott.
In the men's SB8 100m breaststroke, Timothy Disken claimed gold for Australia, with New Zealand's Sophie Pascoe winning the women's SM10 200m individual medley.
Analysis - Something doesn't seem right with Peaty
Nick Hope, BBC Sport on the Gold Coast
Don't get me wrong - he is still phenomenal and clear of his opponents, but 58.84 seconds is a long way off the personal best of 57.13 and he doesn't seem to have the extra gear we're so used to seeing in the second half of that 100m race.
His room-mate and close friend James Guy withdrew from the 200m butterfly tonight with dehydration and if he hasn't been well, that could have impacted on Peaty.
The Englishman has admitted his focus is on swimming quicker at the Commonwealth Games and it will be interesting to see how he now performs in the 50m event.
Team-mate James Wilby, who claimed silver, is on the rise though and there's no doubt that training day in day out alongside Peaty has had a huge impact on his recent improvement.
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Dear BBC,
No one cares about the commonwealth games or women’s football.
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Actually you need to correct that you don't care... there are lots that do, im happy for my licence fee to go on the coverage
I dont agree with your assessment of Peaty.
Sometimes an athlete comes along that is so much better than all the rest that you just have to accept that he/she is on a different level. Usain Bolt is an outstanding example as was Sebastian Coe. Peaty has demonstrated his ability in incremental steps that can be traced as such.
Absolute legend.
With the greatest respect to the other competitors this swim was nothing more than a train exercise. Thats not arrogant that just the way it is.
Well done Mr Peaty; world-class - without a doubt!
I wholeheartedly agree. What viewers need is presenters with AUTHORITY, knowledge and sensitivity which must come before the whole issue of gender equality, which seems to be the BBC's priority.
Agree with the comments about Balding, Logan and Adlington. Disagree about Moorhouse and Jamieson. Easy on the ear and very knowledgeable
No doubt the greatest 50/100m breaststoker to of graced a pool.
Props to Wilby who's strength over the longer distance was starting to show in the last ten metres but alas the Peaty held on.
Nice to have a choice for a change
Bowls is rubbish! Not missed one bit!
Australians celebrate when their athletes win - do you call them "little Australians"? Americans celebrate when their athletes win - do you call them "little Americans"? Germans celebrate when their athletes win - do you call them "little Germans"? Or do you just apologise for being British? Such hatred makes you look like a hypocrite. Enjoy the games.