Sarah Sjostrom Unleashes Golden Double In Marseille; Wins For Peaty, Ponti And Castiglioni

Sarah Sjostrom: Photo Courtesy: Deepbluemedia/Giorgio Scala

Sarah Sjostrom scorched to a golden double and Adam Peaty went 59.83 to win the 100m breaststroke and conclude his competitive return at the FFN Golden Tour in Marseille.

Sjostrom started her afternoon with a 50 free victory in 24.33, a time that rocketed the Swede to the top of the fledgling world rankings and was faster than the women who finished seventh and eighth in the Olympic final in which she claimed silver last year.

Pernille Blume, third in Tokyo, was next home in 24.95 with Anna Hopkin – winner of the 100 free in Marseille – third in 25.09.

Sjostrom returned 34 minutes later to take the 100 fly in 57.87 – splitting 27.19/30.68 – a time good enough for fifth at last year’s European Championships.

Joint European champion Marie Wattel (59.59) and Elena di Liddo (59.63) fought their own duel behind Sjostrom.

Peaty has not competed since Tokyo where he became the first Briton to defend a swimming title when he added 100br gold to his Rio 2016 crown.

Out in 28.01 and back in 31.82, the eight-time world champion led home Loughborough stablemate Greg Butler (1:01.11) and Christopher Rothbauer, who won the 200br on Saturday, in 1:01.38.

European silver medallist Arianna Castiglioni led from start to finish to win the women’s race in 1:07.86 ahead of Florine Gaspard (1:08.04) and Lisa Mamie (1:08.36).

A second 50 of 29.32 propelled Noè Ponti, Olympic bronze medallist in the 100m butterfly, to the 200 in 1:57.28.

Jacob Whittle set a British age group record of 49.15 en-route to touching first in the 100 free.

The 17-year-old – who does not turn 18 until September – sliced 0.04 from the previous mark of 49.15 which had been held by six-time Olympic medallist Duncan Scott since April 2015.

Whittle, who is coached by Mel Marshall at Loughborough NTC, set a 16-years age group mark of 48.76 in April 2021.

Luca Dotto was second in 49.62 with Hadrian Salvan next home in 49.72.

European champion Barbora Seemanova was the only woman inside 2mins as she won the 200 free in 1:59.31.

Ajna Kesely won the 800 free in 8:38.41 with Lena Grabowski taking the 200 back in 2:11.69.

Kregor Zirk won the men’s 400 free in 3:52.86 and Miroslav Knedla took the 50 back in 25.47.

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