Jazz Carlin capped the best day of her career with an Olympic silver medal – but refused to believe it had anything to do with dad Roger’s lucky T-shirt, writes Eleanor Crooks.
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She said: “Four years ago I was sat in the stand cheering Team GB on but now I’m actually part of the team and to come away with a silver medal is absolutely awesome”.
“I came out tonight and took the first 50 easy and came back with everything I have got”.
Ledecky, just 19, is on track for four golds here in Brazil and could break more world records as she goes.
Moorhouse’s gold came in Seoul with a come-from-behind win, but Peaty led from the start with a blistering performance.
“It’s not an overnight thing to become an Olympic medallist”, she said.
“Most importantly she understands everyone is different”.
“It’s got me through the low points. That’s what carried me through every moment”.
Britain failed to win a gold in swimming in London, with the sport seen as the major under-performer in a generally stellar Olympics for the host country.
But two were won on the second night of swimming finals in Rio, with Peaty leading the way.
Peaty was clear favourite entering the Games as the world champion and only man in history to swim beneath 58secs.
He broke his own world record in Saturday’s heat, qualifying in 57.55 and was just 0.07 seconds slower in Saturday night’s semi-final.
Adam Peaty is ready for the scrutiny which accompanies an Olympic champion and is already looking to go faster following his gold in Rio.
Cameron van der Burgh of South Africa, the London 2012 champion, was second in 58.69 and Cody Miller of the United States third in 58.87.
Peaty’s triumph was swiftly followed by Carlin’s fine silver.
The Tigersharks swimmer, who now lives in Bradford on Avon, won heat three as she recorded a time of 4 minutes 2.83 seconds, 0.41 seconds better than her previous personal best.
British silver medalist Jazz Carlin finished 4.77 seconds behind Ledecky in 4:01.23, and Smith took the bronze in 4:01.92.
She told how she missed out on London 2012 due to glandular fever and nearly gave up her Olympic dream. “I’m so grateful for everyone’s support back home and anyone who got up to watch in the ridiculous hours of the morning – I’m just over the moon”, she told reporters. I am on the edge of tears, it hasn’t really sunk in at all. But I was going to go in and put myself in the race instead of trailing and trying to catch up’. “It was about sticking to what I wanted to do”.
The 25-year-old from Swansea was heartbroken to miss out on selection for London four years ago.
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Racing immediately after Peaty’s final, Carlin had “goosebumps” as she watched from the call room before stepping up to the blocks. I’m gobsmacked to come away with silver.
