Adam Peaty swam a time only he has bettered with a 100m breaststroke blast of 58.13 at the Edinburgh International Swim Meet.
Now that the British Olympic trials are likely to be postponed in the light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the meet at the Royal Commonwealth Pool may well be the final time many of these swimmers will be in competition for a while.
Whether Peaty will even get the chance to defend his Olympic title in Tokyo in July is questionable given the Games are increasingly under threat.
The world-record holder was out in 27.12 and back in 31.01 ahead of James Wilby – who won silver behind Peaty at the 2019 World Championships – who clocked 59.48 and 2015 world bronze medallist Ross Murdoch (1:00.48).
It was the fastest time in the world this year, 0.30secs ahead of the 58.43 set by Arno Kamminga of the Netherlands last weekend in Antwerp.
It was also a meet record, Peaty slicing a 0.60 chunk off his own time from last year.
Peaty then posted on social media, saying:
James Guy: Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant
James Guy dominated the 200 fly to win in 1:56.62, especially notable given the time of year and unrested.
It was also a meet record, 0.98secs inside the time of 1:57.64 set by 2014 European champion Viktor Bromer in 2016.
It followed his silver in the 200 free on Friday and is a welcome return to form for the double Olympic relay silver medallist.
Second more than three seconds adrift was Tom Beeley in 2:00.10 with Eduard Rednic (2:03.82).
Also catching the eye was the fourth place claimed by James Hart of Plymouth Leander who was born in 2004 and thus 16 at the most.
There was also a Scottish record for Duncan Scott who won the 50 free in 22.21.
Aimee Willmott: Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant
Aimee Willmott went an impressive 4:37.54 in the 400IM, a time that would hint at a good season to come in what she has long said would be her final Olympics should she qualify. She, as is the case with many, now does not know when or if they are going ahead.
Katie Shanahan is right at the start of her career and promises much. On Saturday she broke her own meet junior record in 4.46.89, 9.35secs behind Willmott in second.
Brodie Williams won the men’s equivalent in 4:18.77 ahead of Mark Szaranek (4:21.19).
Dan Jervis added the 800m title to the 1500 gold with victory in 7:51.26 with Tobias Robinson matching his second-placed finish in the longer race in 7:59.35.
The Welshman’s time was a meet record as he sliced 6.05secs off Jay Lelliott‘s mark of 7:57.31 from 2018.
Daniel Jervis; Photo Courtesy: FINIS
Kathleen Dawson added the 50 backstroke title to the 100 gold she won on Friday as she touched the wall first in 28.07 – a new meet record – ahead of her University of Stirling team-mate Cassie Wild (28.41).
Joe Litchfield did likewise in the men’s to win his second title in 25.32 – also a new meet mark – with Scott Gibson second in 25.67.
Freya Anderson won the 200m free in 1:58.04 ahead of Georgia Coates (1:59.00) and Abbie Wood (1:59.67).
It was the second title of the meet for Anderson who set a new 50 free PB of 24.88 on Friday as she made her maiden voyage inside 25secs.
Harriet West took the 100m butterfly title as a second-50 blast of 30.93 propelled her away from Laura Stephens, winner of Friday’s 200 fly, with the pair separated only by 0.01 at the turn.
West won in 58.65 ahead of Charlotte Atkinson (59.14) with Stephens third to the wall in 59.38.
Sarah Vasey added the 50m breaststroke to her 100m gold in 31.12.
Peaty is a monster!