Commonwealth Games, Day 4 Finals: Sam Williamson Runs Down Michael Houlie for Second Breaststroke Gold
Just as in the 100 breaststroke final two days earlier, South Africa’s Michael Houlie had the most early speed. And even in a race half the length, Australia’s Sam Williamson had enough energy remaining to close the gap in the final strokes and secure gold.
Williamson, behind with 15 meters remaining before pulling even in the final five meters, ended up winning gold by 0.27, a wide margin in a race so short. Williamson recorded a time of 26.50, making him the second-fastest swimmer in the world this year behind American Van Mathias. He finished within two tenths of his Oceanic record of 26.32, a time Williamson posted on the way to winning a world title in the event in February 2024.
This second gold medal in Glasgow made Williamson the fifth swimmer and fourth Australian to win two individual golds. His female teammates Lani Pallister, Jenna Forrester and Alex Perkins already had two apiece while South Africa’s Pieter Coetze is two-thirds of the way to a backstroke sweep. Williamson continued his remarkable rebound after suffering a career-threatening knee injury last year, a rupture of his patellar tendon that required an extensive rehabilitation.
Houlie grabbed silver in 26.77 while bronze went to England’s Adam Ramsay-Peaty in 26.94. Ramsay-Peaty, the world-record holder and only man to swim sub-26 in the event, has now won a medal in the 50 breast in four consecutive Commonwealth Games. He previously won gold in 2022 and silver behind South Africa’s Cameron van der Burgh in 2014 and 2018.
Chris Smith just missed making it a second South African on the podium here, one hundredth back of Peaty in 26.95. Filip Nowacki, who became Jersey’s first-ever Commonwealth Games medalist in swimming, placed fifth (27.20) as he awaits the 200 breast, in which he will be favored.
