Adam Peaty wins double gold at European Swimming Championships
By Mark Crellin
Last Updated: 17/05/16 9:22pm
British swimmer Adam Peaty won a pair of gold medals at the European Championships in London as he continues to impress ahead of the Rio Olympics.
Reigning champion Peaty led home a British one-two in the 100m breaststroke final and produced a sensational performance, clocking a Championship record time of 58.36 seconds - the third fastest in history - as he came home well clear of Ross Murdoch.
And the 21-year-old also teamed up with Chris Walker-Hebborn, Siobhan O'Connor and Fran Halsall to win the mixed 4x100m medley relay, Peaty swimming the breaststroke leg
Halsall bagged a bronze medal in the women's 50m butterfly final as well and Ben Proud finished third in the equivalent men's race.
Peaty took charge during the second part of the first 50m in the breaststroke final and pulled further and further away to win by a large margin relative to the race distance.
"I'm in a great place," he said. "It's probably one of the best swims I've ever had and it was great to do it in front of a home crowd.
"The top four times in the world are mine now, so it's looking good for Rio.
"There's been amazing support in the Aquatics Centre and to have Ross alongside me was just great.
"I haven't rested for this but my stroke just feels like it's in a really great place. It feels strong and I'm even better within myself.
"I didn't think I'd go under a minute, so to do it twice in one week just shows where I am."
In 2014, Peaty and Murdoch became the first Brits to fill the top two positions in the event in European history and they repeated the feat at the Aquatics Centre.
Murdoch said: "I was racing unrested, so coming away with a silver is not a bad result.
"It would be lovely to win sometimes but, if you are racing up against someone like Peaty, you have a tough job."
Halsall qualified fastest for the 50m butterfly but was beaten into third by Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden) and Jeanette Ottesen (Denmark) in the final.
"I am absolutely delighted to win a medal," said the Brit. "A 50m fly is always a huge battle until the last stroke and I am happy to finish in a podium place."
