Duncan Scott swam the second-fastest relay split of all time in the anchor leg of the men’s 4x100m medley on Sunday, overhauling his U.S. and Russian rivals to secure gold for Britain and deny Caeleb Dressel a seventh World title here.
Britain’s come-from-behind victory came in the penultimate event of a pulsating last night in the pool. It came just before the U.S. women set a World record to win the medley relay, with Regan Smith breaking the backstroke record in the lead-off leg.
Scott plunged into the pool with ground to make up on the United States after Dressel opened up a lead for Nathan Adrian with a typically blistering butterfly leg, with Russia also breathing down the American’s neck.
However, the Glasgow-born 22-year-old swam an incredible 46.14 seconds, the fastest since American Jason Lezak’s 46.06 at the Beijing Olympics, to run down Adrian and give Britain the gold and their first win over the U.S. in the event.
“I can’t say I thought I had that split in me,” said Scott, still rubbing his head in disbelief. “I’m just sort of speechless I’ve been able to put that race together.”
Surprise gold
South African Zane Waddell (24.43) grabbed a surprise gold in a blanket finish to the men’s 50m backstroke, ahead of Russians Evgeny Rylov and Kliment Kolesnikov, the World record holder. Only 0.08 seconds separated the top three.
In the women’s 50m breaststroke America’s Lilly King got to the wall first in 29.84, while the third of the water-churning one-lap dashes saw Simone Manuel complete the 50/100m freestyle double, the American getting her fingertips to the wall ahead of Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom and Australian Cate Campbell.
Wellbrock’s feat
Florian Wellbrock also got his name in the record books after the German added the 1,500m freestyle crown to his 10km open water gold in Gwangju, becoming the first athlete to win titles in two different sports at a single World championships.
Daiya Seto brought some cheer to 2020 Olympics host Japan by winning the men’s 400m individual medley for a third time, while Hungary’s ‘Iron Lady’ Katinka Hosszu became the first woman to win five World titles in the same event.
The 30-year-old won her first world gold in Rome and 10 years later she is still setting the standard, coming home 1.68 seconds ahead of China’s Ye Shiwen, with Japan’s Yui Ohashi taking bronze.
Dubious distinction
While governing body FINA said it was delighted the way Gwangju had staged the event, the one sad note for South Korea was that it became the fourth host after Colombia (1975), Ecuador (1982) and Spain (1986) not to win a swimming medal.
Meanwhile, South Korean police said they had banned Hungarian swimmer Tamas Kenderesi from leaving the country as they investigate allegations of sexual harassment against the Rio Olympic bronze medallist.
The results:
Men: 50m backstroke: 1. Zane Waddell (RSA) 24.43s, 2. Evgeny Rylov (Rus) 24.49, 3. Kliment Kolesnikov (Rus) 24.51.
1500m freestyle: 1. Florian Wellbrock (Ger) 14:36.54, 2. Mykhailo Romanchuk (Ukr) 14:37.63, 3. Gregorio Paltrinieri (Ita) 14:38.75.
400m individual medley: 1. Daiya Seto (Jpn) 4:08.95, 2. Jay Litherland (USA) 4:09.22, 3. Lewis Clareburt (Aus) 4:12.07.
4x100m medley relay: 1. Great Britain 3:28.10, 2. USA 3:28.45, 3. Russia 3:28.81.
Women: 50m breaststroke: 1. Lilly King (USA) 29.84, Benedetta Pilato (Ita) 30.00, 3. Yuliya Efimova (RUS) 30.15.
50m freestyle: 1. Simone Manuel (USA) 24.05, 2. Sarah Sjostrom (Swe) 24.07, 3. Cate Campbell (Aus) 24.11.
400m individual medley: 1. Katinka Hosszu (Hun) 4:30.39, 2. Ye Shiwen (Chn) 4:32.07, 3. Yui Ohashi (Jpn) 4:32.33.
4x100m medley relay: 1. USA 3:50.40 (WR, Old: USA, 3:51.55, Budapest, 2017), 2. Australia 3:53.42, 3. Canada 3:53.58.