Britain’s swimmers go for gold on the road to Rio’s 2016 Olympic Games – the latest from our swimming superstars
So, the last days of summer are almost upon us – and what an unforgettable time it’s been for our homegrown swimmers. Back in late July, we were asking if this year’s Commonwealth Games would bring people flocking to the pool, as the 2012 Olympics did, inspired by medal success.
As I write, during another exciting few weeks for swimming, it’s too soon to quote any hard figures but one thing’s for sure – Britain’s swimmers are determined to build upon the interest they aroused back in 2012. It’s been a medal-filled, record-breaking, personal best-beating time for our water babies.
Early August and Team GB’s Commonwealth Games medal cabinet was heaving with 58 medals, including 10 golds, 10 silvers and eight bronzes won by our hard-working swimmers. To name just a few, nineteen-year-old Adam Peaty won gold in the 100m breaststroke (pushing his idol, Cameron van Der Burgh, into second place) and the 4x100m medley, plus a silver in the 50m breaststroke. With two golds plus two records broken (the Commonwealth 100m and the British 50m breaststroke records), he brought tears of joy to Olympian Rebecca Adlington’s eyes. Indeed, she was prompted to say, “I one hundred per cent see him up on the podium,” at Rio’s 2016 Olympics as, “he’s already among the best in the world.” A ringing endorsement– one which could help inspire us mere mortals to dip our toes into the water.
Peaty wasn’t the only UK swimmer to taste medal success in Glasgow. Ripley’s Molly Renshaw won bronze in the 200m breaststroke – after setting four personal bests this season she seems to be on course for a podium place in Rio. Meanwhile, Scotland’s Ross Murdoch surprised his home crowd by finishing ahead of fellow Scot Michael Jamieson to take gold in the 200m breaststroke, and break the British record in a time of two minutes, 7.30 seconds. This was a clean sweep for the UK, as England’s Andrew Willis took bronze.
Just a few days after Glasgow’s closing ceremony and the spotlight fell on the IPC European Swimming Championships in Eindhoven. Where, on 7 August, four-time Paralympic champion, Ellie Simmonds beat her personal best, broke her own world record by 0.34 seconds and took gold in the 200m individual medley. Inspirational? We think so. Add to that, Claire Cashmore’s tie for gold in the SB8 100m breaststroke and Andrew Mullen’s cache of two gold medals (one in the S5 butterfly then another in the SM5 medley– an impressive jump from no international golds to two in 24 hours). Take into account plus silvers for Hannah Russell, Rob Welbourn, and bronzes for James Crisp and Alice Tai, and it’s pretty safe to say that Britain’s swim stars are refusing to just tread water in the run-up to Rio 2016.
So, what’s next? Well, the LEN European Swimming Championships are currently taking place in Berlin and are due to finish in a few days time on 24 August. So far, so good. Jazz Carlin has just won Britain’s fourth gold medal in the 800m freestyle. Ross Murdoch has taken silver in the 200m breaststroke, as has Aimee Willmott in the 200m individual medley, while Georgia Davies and Chris Walker-Hebborn have taken bronze in the in the 100m backstroke and 50m backstroke events respectively. No doubt about it, our swimmers are keeping our interest piqued and their own momentum growing as Rio approaches. Watch this space for more, as and when it happens…