Adam Peaty breaks 50m breaststroke world record in heats at World Swimming Championships

Adam Peaty smashed his own world record in the men’s 50m breaststroke here this morning — and he wasn’t even really trying.

Fresh from defending his 100m title in a new championship record time last night, Peaty ignored any fatigue by clocking 26.10 seconds to qualify fastest for tonight’s semi-finals. The 22-year-old is already a star in Hungary but no one could have anticipated such a dominant swim — not even Peaty himself.

The defending champion, who shaved 0.32 seconds off the world mark, said: “This morning I came in nice and relaxed. I wasn’t even up for it that much so it is crazy. I wasn’t going out there for a world record. Honestly. It’s 10am and I’m very happy with that swim. That world record is two years old, so it’s due another push on.”

Peaty may well have his first proper rival to top podium honours in the form of South Africa’s Cameron van der Burgh — the previous holder of the record.

The former world and Olympic champion, whose titles have been taken away in emphatic style by Peaty since 2015, opted to scratch the 100m breaststroke to focus on the 50m.

Van der Burgh said: “It’s a good time, but gold medals aren’t won in the heats. We know what he’s capable of now. He’s shown all his cards. But it’s a great swim nonetheless.”

Racing in separate heats, Van der Burgh touched 0.12 secs outside of Peaty’s original world record.

Shortly after, a roar erupted inside the Duna Arena as Peaty edged closer to another landmark — the 25-second barrier.

He suggested that he could go even faster tonight.

“That didn’t really feel like my best race, so if I move it on tonight we’ll be very happy,” he said.