It is 19-year-old Guy’s second medal of the meeting after winning silver behind Sun in the 400m freestyle on Sunday.
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“I never thought about beating Sun Yang or anyone”, Guy told British Swimming.
“There’s more there for me”, Guy said.
“I was a bit more nervous than usual”.
The European champion came storming back in the last two lengths, clocking the fastest final 100m of anyone in the field, but found the wall come to soon as she finished fourth with Australia’s Jessica Ashwood taking bronze behind USA’s Katie Ledecky and the Netherlands’ Sharon Van Rouwendaal.
His previous best time was a 1:46.32 from April’s British Trials, and it was his aggressiveness on the front-half that carried him forward – Guy was the first swimmer to the midpoint turn with a 50.99 split, as compared to a 51.93 in his old personal-best swim. “So if I had them, I could go even faster”.
“I’ve got a few days off now so it will be nice to get a few days rest and move on ready for the 800m”. It looked as though the German may take the win, but Guy held on to take Gold and his second medal of the Championships. I’m going out down that first 50m and enjoying it.
“I never thought I’d even make the final”. I did a lot of work on that front end to keep it as relaxed as possible. James Guy was hot on his tail, and with 30m to go, surged past him, but with Yang in Lane 2 coming strong, the teen had to hold on.
Ross Murdoch, who won European silver behind Peaty 12 months ago, also qualified for the final, touching fourth in his heat and eighth overall.
Siobhan-Marie O’Connor was untouchable in the 200m individual medley semi-final and there will be a second Brit in that final as Hannah Miley also qualified.
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Meanwhile, Britain’s Adam Peaty and Cameron van der Burgh, of South Africa, twice traded championship records, suggesting that the men’s 100m breaststroke final tonight will be a thrilling affair.
