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Olympics: Adam Peaty Cruises to 57.63 in 100 Breaststroke Semifinals; Americans Michael Andrew and Andrew Wilson Sneak into Final
Simply, it is unfathomable that anyone besides Adam Peaty will take gold in the men’s 100 breaststroke at the Tokyo Olympics. The British superstar has been the dominant performer through two rounds of the event. After producing a 57.56 in prelims, Peaty shaved his mustache and returned Sunday morning to swim a 57.63 to earn the top seed for the Olympic final by a half-second. Peaty has never lost this race internationally (he made his debut on the major racing circuit in 2014), and he will be looking to win a second straight Olympic gold medal.
Peaty holds the world record in this event in 56.88, and expect Peaty to mount a major challenge to that record in the final.
The Netherlands’ Arno Kamminga looks like the top challenger to Peaty, even if he is a major, major longshot. Kamminga swam a 58.19 in semifinals after improving his best time to 57.90 in prelims, improving his position as the second-fastest performer in history. Kamminga edged out Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi in the first semifinal, and Martinenghi ended up with the third-best qualifying time of 58.28.
China’s Yan Zibei was second in the second semifinal in 58.72, good for the fourth seed, ahead of the USA’s Michael Andrew in 58.99. Great Britain’s James Wilby (59.00) and Belarus’ Ilya Shymanovich (59.08) were sixth and seventh, respectively, while American Michael Andrew got into the final as the eighth-place swimmer with his time of 59.18, just ahead of Germany’s Fabien Schwingenschlogl (59.32).
100 Breaststroke Finalists
- Adam Peaty (GBR), 57.63
- Arno Kamminga (NED), 58.19
- Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA), 58.28
- Yan Zibei (CHN), 58.72
- Michael Andrew (USA), 58.99
- James Wilby (GBR), 59.00
- Ilya Shymanovich (BLR), 59.08
- Andrew Wilson (USA), 59.18
- Fabien Schwingenschlogl (GER), 59.32
