World Aquatics Championships 2024: Tang Qiantang wins maiden women's 100m breaststroke long course world title
The People's Republic of China swimmer never relinquished the lead to finish with gold in Doha, ahead of Netherland's Tes Schouten in silver, and Siobhan Haughey of Hong Kong China in bronze.
Swimming
Tang Qianting sealed her first-ever long course women's 100m breaststroke world title at the Doha 2024 World Aquatics Championships on Tuesday (13 February).
The People's Republic of China swimmer flew out the blocks to take an early lead in Doha, reaching the halfway point almost a body length ahead.
From there, the 19-year-old increased her lead with perfect stroke rhythm to touch home first in a time of 1:05.27 - half a second clear of her rivals - adding long course gold to the 100 breaststroke title she claimed at the World Short-Course Championships in 2021.
The race for silver was won by Dutch flyer Tes Schouten, who staged a late comeback to improve upon her 200m breaststroke bronze medal last year.
Completing the podium in bronze was Hong Kong China's double silver Olympic medallist from Tokyo 2020, Siobhan Haughey, who showed great versatility to secure her first non-freestyle world medal.
"After the race, I was looking around and I wasn't sure where I'd finished - and then I suddenly realised I was first!" Tang said afterwards.
On speaking English in poolside interview, she added:
"I wanted to be brave and practise it with the Paris Olympics coming up!"