Loughborough swimmers in astounding World Championship one-two finish

Loughborough swimmer James Wilby secured his first global medal at the World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea.

Loughborough swimmer James Wilby secured his first global medal at the World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea.

Loughborough swimmers Adam Peaty and James Wilby sealed an emphatic one-two finish in the 100m Breastroke final at the World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea.

Following his world record race on Sunday, Peaty delivered another stunning performance, touching the wall in 57.14 - the third fastest time in history. Wilby’s strong finish saw him achieve a personal best 58.46, securing his first global medal in the process.

Speaking about the Loughborough one-two, Peaty said:

“It’s not just a British one-two but a Loughborough one-two! We’re training partners - well he trains in a different group - but we train in the same centre, and I’m stoked for him. It’s looking like Britain is a stronghold for breaststroke and it has been for a long time now.

“This is still very special to me, winning a World Championship title and faster than I’ve ever done it before,” Peaty added.

Wilby was equally as pleased with his race:

“I’m really happy. After the Commonwealths and Europeans last year this was always the next major international and the one last steppingstone towards Tokyo, so I’m really happy to get that silver medal and a Britain one-two means an awful lot to us as well.

“It’s hard to describe the setup we’ve got in Loughborough with an amazing group of staff. It’s individual races, but it’s a team effort at the same time, as I couldn’t do a single thing without any of them behind me doing their various things.”

Another Loughborough swimmer, Molly Renshaw, also impressed in the Women’s 100m Breaststroke semi-finals, with a personal best 1.06.73, booking her place in Wednesday’s final.

“I wasn’t expecting to go that fast! I came here with the 100m being my secondary event and just a setup for the 200m, so now to be in the final I’m a bit overwhelmed – I’m over the moon. I swim with blinkers on so I couldn’t really even see what the girl next to me was doing – I’ve always wanted to go 66!”

The Gwangju World Aquatics Championships run between Friday 12 July - Sunday 28 July 2019.