Adam Peaty and Katinka Hosszu both won gold as arena swimmers continued to make the podium their own on the second night of the World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea.
Peaty swam the fourth-fastest time in history to win the 100m breaststroke in 57.14 secs, 24 hours after becoming the first man to dip under 57 seconds as ‘Project 56’ finally came to fruition in 56.88 short seconds.
The 24-year-old has now become the first man to win three successive breaststroke world titles but he was still slightly dissatisfied with his time and will look to push on further ahead of Tokyo 2020.
He said: “It’s still a 57.1 which is about a second and a half faster than the rest of them. Very happy: that constant expectation I put upon myself is a little bit disappointed in me but I think that will fuel me for next year because I know how bad I want to go low 56, even faster now, and I know exactly how to do it.
“Obviously I’ve run out of opportunities here but yeah, just enjoy it – enjoy the moment.”
Hosszu became the first woman to secure four consecutive victories in an event when she won the 200m individual medley.
The ‘Iron Lady’ led from start to finish to win in 2:07.53 and admitted the medal had extra lustre because of the emotional demands that 2018 placed up on her.
“It has been a tough journey especially coming off last year,” she said.
“From outside it might seem just another gold medal but obviously for me it is really special to be here and to be able to win this title. I am looking forward to a lot of work for next year.”
On the lessons she has learned, Hosszu added: “I learned a lot of things last year. Honestly just for me like finding my purpose and who I am. I know a lot more about myself than I thought I knew and I a think I am starting to grow up, I am 30 now, really maturing. Coming into this World Champs and really deciding I am going to prepare for Tokyo I decided to have really have fun with swimming.”
Sarah Sjostrom took silver in the 100m butterfly in 56.22 and the Swedish swimmer was philosophical about not making it four titles in a row.
“Obviously I would be more happy with a gold medal,” she said.
“I felt already in the semi final and the prelims that I can’t really hold the last 50 back together. I am quite exhausted in the end. I am actually surprised that I did 56.22 with that hard finish. I wish I could complain and say I got water in my goggles or something like that but I actually had a pretty good race with good turns, good start: it’s just the back end speed but maybe that’s just age!”
