Guy smashes silver to take world champs silver
James Guy demolished the British Record in the 400m Freestyle as he and Siobhan-Marie OConnor both claimed silver medals to increase Great Britains haul to six at the FINA World Short-Course Swimming Championships in Doha
Guy produced a staggering performance at the Hamad Aquatic Centre where he sliced close to four seconds off Robbie Renwick’s British Record with a time of 3:36.35.
O’Connor then clinched silver in the 100m Individual Medley to add to her second place as part of yesterday’s 4x50m Mixed Relay squad. The other British finalist – Jazz Carlin – was sixth in the 400m Freestyle.
Guy did not so much lower the British record, which had stood since 2008, as take a sledgehammer to it. In the heats he became the first British man under the 3:40 mark in 3:39.58 to qualify third for the final.
The Millfield swimmer – who turned 19 last Wednesday – then returned to the pool tonight to take off another three plus seconds en-route to silver.
Peter Berner claimed gold for Hungary and beat the championship record held by Australian great Grant Hackett since 1999.
Guy was beaming after the race, saying: “It just felt great. I’ve honestly never felt that fast – I am over the moon with that, I am just so happy.
“I could see Peter was in first and I thought ‘he’s gone, I’ll just do my own race’. My coach told me to try and build and build and build and that is what I did. It just felt great from there.
“It’s my first major short course and I’ve medalled so I’m over the moon.”
O’Connor had twice lowered her own British Record en-route to tonight’s 100m IM final for which she qualified in pole position.
While she could not replicate that in the final, the 19-year-old took a second silver of the meet behind Katinka Hosszu as the Hungarian won in a new World Record.
The Bath swimmer smiled: “I am really happy with that. This was just a bit of fun ahead of the 200IM which is my main event.”
Chris Walker-Hebborn lowered his personal best to 23.34 to qualify seventh for tomorrow’s 50m Backstroke final while Adam Barrett missed the 50m Butterfly final by one place.
The British Gas GBR Swimming team comprises:
Adam Barrett - British Gas GBR National Centre, Loughborough
James Guy - Millfield
Adam Peaty – City of Derby
Ben Proud – Plymouth Leander
Chris Walker-Hebborn - British Gas GBR National Centre, Bath
Jazz Carlin – Swansea Performance Centre
Georgia Davies - British Gas GBR National Centre, Loughborough
Fran Halsall - British Gas GBR National Centre, Loughborough
Hannah Miley – Garioch
Siobhan Marie O’Connor - British Gas GBR National Centre, Bath
Sophie Taylor – City of Leeds
