Rio Olympics 2016: Adam Peaty wins GB's first medal with swimming gold
Last updated on .From the section Olympics
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Hosts: Rio de Janeiro Dates: 5-21 August Rio time: BST -4 |
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Great Britain won their first medal of Rio 2016 as Adam Peaty took gold in the men's 100m breaststroke with a world record.
The 21-year-old from Uttoxeter broke his own world mark by winning in 57.13 seconds, well clear of the field.
Peaty is the first British man to win an Olympic swimming gold medal since Adrian Moorhouse, who won the same event in Seoul in 1988.
Welsh star Jazz Carlin won silver in the women's 400m freestyle soon after.
"It's so surreal to get Team GB's first gold," said Peaty, who finished more than 1.5 seconds clear of his nearest rival.
"I came out tonight and took the first 50 easy and came back with everything I have got. I did it for my country and that means so much for me."
South African Cameron van der Burgh, the London 2012 champion, took silver, while Cody Miller won bronze for the USA.
Peaty, who was already the world, European and Commonwealth champion, emulates the achievement of fellow Britons David Wilkie (1976), Duncan Goodhew (1980) and Adrian Moorhouse (1988) in winning breaststroke gold.
It took five days for Britain to win their first gold at London 2012, but Peaty's medal came on the second day of action in Rio.

Reaction
Peaty, making his Olympic debut in Rio, has been dominant from the first moment he got into the pool at the weekend, having first broken his own world record with a time of 57.55secs in the heats.
Moorhouse, who dominated British swimming in the late 1980s, believes Peaty's physical and mental attributes sets him apart from his rivals.
"He is very good at turning threats to opportunities," he said.
"He has the technical ability and talent to do this and can then cope with the pressure of the moment and put a bubble around himself. He has got everything."
Five-times Olympic swimmer Mark Foster added: "Everything just went right.
"He has had problems with his start but he has worked on it tirelessly and everything came right for him.
"I knew the race was over before it started. Physically he is an absolutely beast.
Rebecca Adlington, who won two Olympic swimming gold medals at Beijing 2008, said: "His stroke and power is incredible."
Peaty's achievement delighted British Olympic team-mates Adam Gemili and Greg Rutherford.
Sprinter Gemili said that Peaty was "in a class of his own", while long jumper Rutherford said on social media: "The whole of GB tower here in the village erupted when Adam Peaty won. What a brilliant feeling."

Analysis
BBC Sport's chief sports writer Tom Fordyce:
"This was more than just Britain's first gold medal of these Rio Olympics, it was one of the finest displays by a British athlete in Olympic history.
"To win over 100m by 1.56 seconds, to leave the last Olympic champion more than a body length behind, is extraordinary even by the exalted standards Adam Peaty has set in his young career.
"Wilkie 1976, Goodhew 1980, Moorhouse 1988, and now Peaty 2016. The moment a young man's life changed forever."
Who is Adam Peaty?
Peaty still lives with his parents in his hometown of Uttoxeter in Staffordshire and was afraid of water as a child.
The City of Derby swimmer rose to prominence in 2014, taking two golds at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. He has also won eight European golds and three world golds.
Shortlisted for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in 2014 and 2015, Peaty became the first man to go under 58 seconds in the 100m breaststroke at the world trials last year, setting what was then a world record of 57.92secs.
He has lowered that time by 0.79secs in Rio.
Olympic Nan - Peaty's super fan

Peaty's grandmother Mavis, or Olympic Nan as she has called herself, is becoming a bit of a star on social media.
Mavis has been following her grandson's exploits in the pool from her home in Staffordshire and has also been showing her enthusiasm on social media.
Since Sunday morning, she has gone from 106 Twitter followers to more than 3,000.
After Peaty qualified for the final, Mavis told BBC Radio 5 live: "Caroline [Adam Peaty's mum] had to phone me because I said: 'I can't get this telly on'. I couldn't get the red button going. Then I thought I know what I can do - my iPad. So I got the BBC up on my iPad and I watched it on there.
"Since I've been going to watch Adam, it's given me a new life, a different life, that I never dreamed of. I've loved every minute of it.."
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Perhaps being afraid of the water when he was younger spurred him on. Once he dives in he just wants to get out as quickly as possible!
"Sorry Adam, but this is a little hard to believe."
You should be sorry.
Has he ever missed a test? NO
Has he ever failed a test? NO
Has he called for weekly testing? YES
Get over yourself you attention-seeking troll.
Congratulations to Peaty for a superb and clean swim!
"no-one had heard of Adam Peaty.........s"
That's exactly the part of the beauty of the Olympics. These fantastic hard working athletes get to showcase their talent on the world stage with the world watching.
Sad thing is, while these fine men and women are in Rio plying their trade, morons like you are sat at home working on diluting the gene pool!
"Sorry Adam, but this is a little hard to believe"
What a miserable existence you must lead frowny face...
wow what a inspiration you 3 are. if you want to be a troll follow these 3 they can help you make sure they depress and upset as many people as possible.
why do it...because these weak people can hide behind their user names.
21 years old winning a gold medal in a wr record time...your opinion counts for what?
on 14 minutes ago
How long did you train just to become a troll. Pathetic!
He was expected to win the gold whereas she was a potential bronze contender.
Obviously the gold gets the limelight but she deserves loads of credit!.
on
"Question: Who cares about the Olympics?
Answer: No one."
Mr No One.
if you don't care, why comment?
Be a gent. Do a some thoughtful, respectful interviews. Smile.
That's the kind of sportsman we should have all over our sports pages.
Utterly dominant, utterly likeable.
"Now we are all in agreement"
Well, everybody else is in agreement - you're a miserable naysayer who obviously has an inferiority complex and feels the need to troll people who actually have some talent. Go back to googling, but this time search "dedication" or "toil" or "hard work" and leave the likes of Adam Peaty to revel in their achievement.
For all round fitness which can be transferred to other sports, swimming has to be the best.
(WIth thanks to Fry and Laurie)
Wonderful race to watch, I can't remember the last time I saw a British Olympian in their final without even feeling nervous for them, it was just so effortless.
Answer - obviously you as you took the time to go into the article and comment.
Ah, thank goodness for your erudition. Trust you are immediately informing all relevant authorities to have this travesty reversed.
Or, it could just be you are another example of a non-achiever looking to denigrate the amazing achievements of someone like Peaty. If it makes you happy, I suppose....
Really can't understand why some people can't just enjoy these things rather than look for negatives where they don't exist. Illegal stroke, seriosly? All the experts & judges within the sport of swimming have missed it, but a few armchar experts are in the know....?