Peaty and Titmus - a cut above the rest

Adam Peaty showed his class as he powered his way to a second Olympic gold medal in the men’s 100m breaststroke at the Tokyo aquatics centre on Monday. The Briton, the reigning World and Olympic champ

Adam Peaty showed his class as he powered his way to a second Olympic gold medal in the men’s 100m breaststroke at the Tokyo aquatics centre on Monday. The Briton, the reigning World and Olympic champion and also the world record holder in the event, came out with his usual swagger. He was never in trouble as he romped home in style, giving his country its first gold of the Games. The 26-year-old, however, was nowhere near his world record of 56.88, set at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea. He took the lead right at the start and went on to win in 57.37, marginally slower than the 57.13 he had clocked in Rio 2016. The poor timing was understandable as there none in the rest of the field to push Peaty. The rust caused by the lack of competitions during the last two years due to the outbreak of COVID-19 could have been another reason for the slow race. Dutchman Arno Kamminga, who finished in 58.00, took silver while Italian Nicolo Martinenghi (58.33) claimed the bronze.