SCOTS Stephen Milne and Duncan Scott, along with England’s Nick Grainger and James Guy, claimed Great Britain’s fourth gold of the World Championships in Budapest with a fabulous victory in the men’s 4x200 metres freestyle relay.
Scottish breaststroker Ross Murdoch finished fourth in the 200m on day six before the relay team delivered. Anton Chupkov of Russia improved his championship and European record to take 200m breaststroke gold in 2:06.96.
Yasuhiro Koseki of Japan was second in 2:07.29 and his compatriot Ippei Watanabe, the world record holder, was third in 2:07.47. Murdoch clocked 2:08.12.
The 23-year-old Stirling swimmer won Commonwealth Games gold in 2014 and the European title in May 2016, but recorded his fastest time in almost three years in the semi-finals on Thursday night.
In the relay, Milne and Grainger gave Britain a fast start and Scott put Britain into podium contention before Guy, on the anchor leg, surged to victory.
Britain finished in seven minutes 01.70 seconds, with Russia’s Mikhail Dovgalyuk, Mikhail Vekovishchev, Danila Izotov and Aleksandr Krasnykh 0.98secs behind in second.
Blake Pieroni, Townley Haas, Jack Conger and Zane Grothe of the United States took bronze, 1.48secs adrift. Britain were defending champions in the relay, having won the title in Kazan two years ago, and took Olympic silver behind the USA at Rio 2016.
A key member of Britain’s medal-winning quartet from those two championships was absent as Dan Wallace was suspended for a drink-driving conviction Guy, who qualified for Saturday’s 100m butterfly final earlier in the session, replaced Calum Jarvis following the morning heat swim, when Britain qualified second behind Australia.
The 21-year-old’s inclusion was decisive. Guy was the only swimmer in the event who clocked under 1:44 for their four lengths, with his anchor leg split at 1:43.80
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here