Adam Peaty ended Great Britain’s 28-year wait for a men’s Olympic swimming title after clinching gold in the 100m breaststroke on day two in Rio.
Peaty was in magnificent form in his opening heat and he put down a huge marker by breaking his own world record before qualifying fastest for the final following his semi-final swim.
The 21-year-old was the in-form swimmer coming into the 2016 Olympic Games, having won World Championship titles last year in the 50m breaststroke, 100m breaststroke and 4×100m mixed medley.
He achieved the same results at the 2016 European Championships in London while he also added another gold to his collection in the 4×100 m medley.
All that was left to complete the set was the Olympic crown and the Uttoxeter-born star duly delivered with another world-record time of 57.13 seconds.
South African Cameron van der Burgh, the London 2012 champion, took silver, while Cody Miller managed to take bronze for the USA.
Peaty is expected to complete in the 4x100m medley and Great Britain are priced at 15.00 to win the gold while America are the firm 1.20 favourites.
The Olympic champion expressed his delight after the victory and says being able to bring back a medal is a great feeling.
“It’s so surreal to get Team GB’s first gold,” he said.
“I came out tonight and took the first 50 easy and came back with everything I have got.
I did it for my country and that means so much for me.” Elsewhere, there was more success for team GB with Jazz Carlin clinching silver in the women’s 400m freestyle after touching home in 4:01.23.
USA’s Katie Ledecky took gold in a world-record time of three minutes 56.46 seconds and she is 1.50 favourite to win the Women’s 200m Freestyle.
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