British Trials, Day 4 Finals: Duncan Scott Goes 1:55.91 For 200IM Gold Ahead Of Tom Dean; Both Men Inside The QT

18th April 2021, London Aquatics Centre, London, England ; 2021 British Swimming Selection Trials

Duncan Scott: Photo Courtesy: Georgie Kerr

British Trials, Day 4 Finals: Duncan Scott Goes 1:55.91 For 200IM Gold Ahead Of Tom Dean; Both Men Inside The QT

Duncan Scott went inside the 1:56 barrier for the third time in his career to win the 200IM title ahead of Tom Dean at the Aquatics Centre in London.

Scott led throughout to claim gold in 1:55.91 with Dean coming from fifth at halfway to move through the field and stop the clock in 1:56.44, the second-fastest time of his career.

Both men were well inside the qualification time of 1:57.49 with Max Litchfield third in 1:58.11, a day after lowering Scott’s British record in the 400IM.

Charlie Hutchison was the fourth man inside 2mins in 1:59.94 ahead of Matthew Ward (2:00.16), Evan Jones (2:00.31), Mark Szaranek (2:00.54) and William Ryley (2:03.00).

Scott splits: 24.92/54.69 (29.77)/1:28.03 (33.34)/1:55.91 (27.88)

Dean splits: 25.46/55.73 (30.27)/1:29.04 (33.31)/1:56.44 1927.40)

Scott’s time ranks third in his career behind his 1:55.28 PB and British record en-route to silver behind Wang Shun at the Tokyo Olympics and 1:55.90 in the same Aquatics Centre in April 2021.

It was though 0.04 swifter than the 1:55.95 that secured silver at the 2023 World Championships behind Leon Marchand and his European record of 1:54.82 when Dean came home like a train on the freestyle leg for a Great Britain 2-3.

With those times, the British pair occupy the top two slots in the rankings, displacing Finlay Knox and the 1:56.64 that secured him gold at the 2024 worlds in Doha.

“In years gone past in the 200IM it’s fair to say the depth hasn’t always been there.

“But with that, Max is right on form in the 400 IM, Deano (Tom Dean) medalling last year, and Mark (Szaranek) has medalled at the Commonwealth Games before, and there’s some young boys putting in good performances as well so I’m happy with that time, especially at this time of year as well.

“It’s good to go a 55, but to be honest I’d probably have wanted a bit more. But that’s just the way it is.

“You saw that in the 100 free final last night. Sometimes when you try a little bit too hard it can slip a little bit of water.

“Last time at trials in an Olympic year (2021) I was a 55.9. I’m not saying that equals what I’ll go this summer but this is an early trials and it’s good to lay down a solid time.”

It was the second-fastest time of Dean’s career, surpassed only by his 1:56.07 PB in Fukuoka, as he added silver to his 100 free bronze which earned him a spot on the 4×1 free relay in the French capital.

“How many times have I been racing Duncan and I’ve been trying to close him down on the freestyle leg?

“It seems like a recurring event, I know I need to work on.

“But as I was saying earlier, it’s my fastest-ever trials swim and that gives me a lot of confidence in the block I’ve done and the week I’ve got and the 200 free coming up on Sunday.

“I knew I was on good form off the back of that 100 free.

“I’d be lying if I said it was smooth sailing this year, there’s been a lot of ups and downs. I struggled at European short-course for several different reasons but it’s being able to park that and say I know I haven’t done the block of training I’ve wanted to, I know I’ve not done the full taper.

“Then it’s like ‘right, from Christmas to trials to do a good block, a good taper and I know what I can do.”

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