British Trials, Day 5 Prelims: Ben Proud Posts 21.70 In 50 Free, James Wilby Heads 200 Breaststroke

Benjamin Proud of Great Britain competes in the 50m Butterfly Men Heats during the 20th World Aquatics Championships at the Marine Messe Hall A in Fukuoka (Japan), July 23rd, 2023. Benjamin Proud placed 9th.

Ben Proud: Photo Courtesy: Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

British Trials, Day 5 Prelims: Ben Proud Takes To The Water, James Wilby Goes In 200 Breaststroke

Ben Proud went 21.70 in the 50 free as he made his entrance at the British trials as he begins his quest to book a place at his third Olympics.

James Wilby was swiftest into the 200 breaststroke final in 2:12.29 ahead of Greg Butler who clocked 2:12.87 with the pair well clear of the rest of the field.

Men’s 800m Freestyle

Sean McCann led the three slowest heats in 8:12.21 ahead of Arthur Logan (8:14.51) with the duo the sole men inside 8:20.

Cameron Travis (8:21.30), Christian Duetoft (8:23.03), Ethan Kelly (8:23.12), Jude Liddiard (8:23.63), Hayden Annan (8:24,35) and Luke Booth (8:25.87) completed the top eight.

Men’s 200m Breaststroke

Wilby booked lane four for the final in 2:12.29 alongside Greg Butler who clocked 2:12.87 with the Loughborough pair the only men inside 2:14.

George Smith (2:14.70) and Archie Goodburn (2:14.92) were some way clear of the rest of the field, headed by Max Morgan who led four men home on 2:16.

Morgan was on 2:16.04 ahead of Rory Dickson (2:16.46), Maxwell Anderson (2:16.49) and Harvey Freeman (2:16.70).

Men’s 50m Freestyle

Proud is seeking a trip to his third Olympics after fourth at Rio 2016 and joint fifth in Tokyo five years later.

The 29-year-old has won every single title available to him – world and European long and short-course plus Commonwealth – bar the Olympics where he has fallen just short of the podium.

He was the only man inside 22 on 21.70, matching the qualification time for Paris which he’ll have to reproduce in the final.

Proud told Swimming World:

“The game-plan coming into this meet was treat this heat as if it were an Olympics: what time we make it back and it’s going to be around that 21.8 you’ll be safe.

“So the more I can rehearse that in the morning, without caffeine, without the right suits and everything, the better.

“To be honest, it’s the cobwebs, it’s the nerves of the first race so I just wanted to get something done.

“I’m pleased. Come back tonight – it’s not often we have this heats to final session – so just got to get straight after it and put in a good race tonight.”

Of using the prelim to get a feel for the water given he has had to wait until day five to compete, Proud added:

“I don’t know what a 22.4 would have given me in terms of knowledge or confidence.

“I swim my own race no matter where I am and here there was no time for a breath or anything like that.

“I just have to really get these things finely tuned and I don’t have many opportunities to race in this condition up until the Games.

“So every one is something I can learn from and I felt like nice, I felt comfortable.

“Tonight is going to be a bit more nerve-wracking: I think you’re seeing – especially with the 100 fly last night – that nothing is guaranteed in the morning.

“Lots of places are going missing and I have only got this one shot to get this Olympic position so I have to really justify my place and just put together a good race when I have to.”

Alexander Cohoon was millimetres from joining the 21 club in 22.00 with 100 champion Matt Richards next through in 22.14.

Alexander Painter (22.28), David Cumberlidge (22.37), Lewis Burras (22.44), Jordan Cooley (22.47) and Calvin Fry (22.49) completed the field.

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