Britain’s Adam Peaty completed a world treble in the men’s 100 metres breaststroke on Monday, while American Caeleb Dressel continued to feed his obsession for gold by romping to the 50m freestyle title.
Peaty completed what was deemed a formality after smashing his own breaststroke world record at the weekend, clocking 57.14 seconds to win gold — although his forlorn expression on seeing his time told its own story.
‘Bit disappointed’
“A little bit disappointed, but that will fuel me for next year,” said the Briton, who set a new World mark of 56.88 at the weekend, becoming the first swimmer to break 57 seconds.
“I know how bad I want to go near 56, even faster.”
The 24-year-old, unbeaten in five years over the distance in major competitions, puffed out his cheeks and shook his head despite becoming the first male swimmer to capture three 100m breaststroke World titles.
Fellow Briton James Wilby took silver in 58.46 and China’s Yan Zibei bronze in 58.63.
Teen sensation: Margaret MacNeil pulled off a big upset in the 100m butterfly, upstaging Sarah Sjostrom.
Dressel, one of the few swimmers with more body ink than Peaty, swept to seven gold medals at the 2017 World championships in Budapest — 10 years after American great Michael Phelps became the first to do it.
The 22-year-old retained his 50m freestyle crown in a championship record of 22.35 seconds with Russian Oleg Kostin second (22.70) and Brazil’s Nicholas Santos third (22.79). “I’m in a better place than two years ago. If I try to be fast then I’m no good, so it’s better just to shut everything off and let instinct take over,” said Dressel
Elsewhere, Canadian teen Margaret MacNeil stunned Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom in the women’s 100m butterfly.
Sjostrom was looking to become the first female swimmer to win five gold medals in a single individual event, and the Olympic champion turned first — and five hundredths inside her own world record.
But MacNeil came roaring back over the last 25m to claim her first World title, touching in 55.83 with Sjostrom second in 56.22 and Australia’s Emma McKeon third.
“I didn’t expect that,” said the 19-year-old MacNeil.
“I’ve looked up to Sarah forever so it means the world.”
At the medal ceremony, the swimmers sent a message of support to Japanese rival Rikako Ikee, who was diagnosed with leukaemia earlier this year.
The trio wrote “Never give up, Rikako Ikee” and hearts on their hands, which they held up to photographers in a touching show of solidarity.
Hungary’s “iron lady” Katinka Hosszu sped to her fourth World title in the women’s 200m individual medley, her time of 2:07.53 more than a second faster the silver medallist Ye Shiwen of China.
The results: Men: 100m breaststroke: 1. Adam Peaty (GBr) 57.14s, 2. James Wilby (GBr) 58.46, Yan Zibei (Chn) 58.63.
50m butterfly: 1. Caeleb Dressel (USA) 22.35, 2. Oleg Kostin (Rus) 22.70, 3. Nicholas Santos (Bra) 22.79.
Women: 100m butterfly: 1. Maggie MacNeil (Can) 55.83, 2. Sarah Sjostrom (Swe) 56.22, 3. Emma McKeon (Aus) 56.61.
200m IM: 1. Katinka Hosszu (Hun) 2:07.53, 2. Ye Shiwen (Chn) 2:08.60, 3. Sydney Pickrem (Can) 2:08.70.