Adam Peaty seals British 100m breaststroke title
The 100m breaststroke world record holder looked like he'd never left as he sealed his place on Great Britain's World Championships team for this summer.
Swimming
Adam Peaty announced his return to competition in style on Tuesday (5 April) with victory in the men's 100 breaststroke on night one of the British Swimming Championships.
After recording the fastest time in this morning's qualifying session, the three-time Olympic gold medallist blasted to the title with a time of 58.58 in the final. It is an exceptional time by even his standards so early in the season that would have made last year's Tokyo 2020 Olympic final.
"It gets more difficult as you get older. Obviously the crowd are fantastic but it does get harder to race and we've overcome some obstacles," Peaty said after.
"I took a long time off after the Olympics, but we're in a good place. I'm not really into times... Tonight was about a race, we have such a depth in breaststroke.
"My real mission now is to inspire as many people as I can through sport."
Peaty took a break from racing after a successful Olympic campaign, and took part in TV show Strictly Come Dancing.
"(The show) was hard! I like to challenge myself and get out of my comfort zone as that's how you grow. But me being on the dance floor is not what people want to see really!"
There is a special atmosphere at the Sheffield event - which also serves as the British trials for this summer’s 2022 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest - with fans having returned to stadiums in the United Kingdom after the coronavirus pandemic.
READ: 2022 British Swimming Championships: How to watch Adam Peaty in action
Elsewhere on a thrilling night of action, Imogen Clark won the women’s 50 breaststroke final in a blistering 30.10. Her time was just 0.06 off her British record, set record four years ago.
There was a shock in the men’s 50 back where Sebastian Somerset clocked 25.3 to win from the outside lane.
Abbie wood out-touched Freya Anderson to win the women’s 200 free in the latest instalment of their brilliant rivalry. The 23-year-old, who finished fourth in the 200 IM at Tokyo 2020, touched home in 1.57.61, just 0.02 ahead of the much taller Anderson.
There was a popular victory in the men’s 400 for Daniel Jervis. The Welshman, who has already been pre-selected in 1500 freestyle for the world championships, comfortably won by a full length in 3.46.44.
His time was just 0.1 outside the consideration time, meaning that he is not an automatic qualification for the British team in this event. In a touching moment in his post-race interview, he mentioned that this event was the first time he'd seen his parents since before the coronavirus pandemic.
Freya Colbert won the women's 400 IM in 4.41.27, shortly after competing in the 200 final.
How to watch the British Swimming Championships 2022 live
Tickets are available for fans to attend sessions in person in Sheffield.
The Championships will also be broadcast on British Swimming's YouTube page.