Adam Peaty swimming

Peaty powers to double gold at British Swimming Championships

Olympic Champion Adam Peaty put on a swimming masterclass for the adorning crowd at the British Swimming Championships over the last two days as he won not one, but two titles, nearly breaking his own world record in the process.

Peaty had the crowd on their feet on the opening day of the championships in Sheffield as he defended his title in the 100m breaststroke in a world class time of 57.79, way clear of the rest of the field.

Returning to the pool the next day the Olympic champion, who now trains full-time at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ, blasted to 50m glory, missing his own world record by just 0.06 seconds. Despite being frustrated at coming so close to the world record, Peaty was way inside the British qualifying time for the World Championships in both events, and will now head to Budapest in July full of confidence.

Post-race Peaty said:

“I came here tonight to see what I had in that 50 and I am pleased with where that is in April. It’s almost annoying how close I was to the world record but that’s sport and we’ll go back and see how we can improve it now.

“I really like the 50 because I can just go all at it. The 50 is going to compliment my 100 and that’s the main reason why I do it to be honest. The crowd have been great and they don’t know how much their support means to me. Hopefully one day I can give back to them.

After the medal presentation Peaty gave away his gold medal to a young fan in the crowd, which added an extra touch of class to his performance on the night.

"Hopefully that lad will look at the medal and it will make him think, 'If I train harder, I can be out there too' and then he'll be here competing one day."

Of his new home in º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ the double world record holder added:

“I am loving the environment in º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ. We have a great support team and the guys at British Swimming are really helping me with my race. I can still move it on for Budapest which is exciting.”

Peaty’s fellow National Centre º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ swimmer and º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Chemistry student James Wilby bagged bronze in the 100m event to cap a great first night for º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ in the pool.

There was a shock victory for Jocelyn Ulyett on day two, the º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ student setting a new British Record and winning her first national title in the 200m breaststroke. Ulyett took on Olympians Molly Renshaw (who also trains at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ) and Chloe Tutton in the final, prevailing down the final length to bag the biggest win of her career.

The final year Geography and Management student was understandably delighted with her performance, especially as it was inside the consideration time for the World Championships.

“That time is so surreal, I can’t believe it! I’ve been really struggling with confidence so this morning really boosted it and then tonight I just had nothing to lose so I just swam my own race. I’m so excited to have met the time. It’s absolutely crazy to have achieved that. I just can’t believe it.”

Olympian Georgia Davies also set a World Championship consideration time in the 100m backstroke, winning in 59.34 seconds.

Human Biology student Charlotte Atkinson was another athlete to make history as she became the first Manx athlete to win a British title for over half a century. The 19 year old took the 50m butterfly title by nine hundredths of a second, her 26.81 clocking a new Isle of Man record.

There were further º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ medals on the opening night in Sheffield, with Abbie Wood winning bronze in the 400m Individual Medley in a personal best time of 4:37.25, whilst University alumnus Joe Elwood secured silver in the 50m backstroke in an extremely tight race.

Imogen Clark swam to a new British Record in the 50m Breaststroke after she touched in a time of 30.21 and was joined on the podium by º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ College student Sarah Vasey who finished second.

In the Target Tokyo development races there was glory for Megan Morrison in the

50m Breaststroke, with her training partner and University Fine Art student Grace Gilroy finishing third, whilst International Business student Alasdair Wright also won bronze in the 50m Backstroke. There was also silver for second year Computing and Management student Tobias Robinson in the 400m Freestyle, with Edward Baxter winning a terrific gold in the 100m Breaststroke.

On the second day of action there were more º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ medals, notably Harriet West, Kevin Wallback and Daniel Cross all winning their Target Tokyo finals.

Notes for editors

Press release reference number:

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is equipped with a live in-house broadcast unit via the Globelynx network. To arrange an interview with one of our experts please contact the press office on 01509 223491. Bookings can be made online via www.globelynx.com

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world to study sports-related subjects in the 2017 QS World University Rankings and top in the country for its student experience in the 2016 THE Student Experience Survey.

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ was ranked 4th in the Guardian University League Table 2017 and 7th in The UK Complete University Guide 2017 and was also named Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017.

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and is in the top 10 in England for research intensity. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes. 

The º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.

Categories