1) Adam Peaty can live up to expectations
All eyes were on Adam Peaty after his 100m breaststroke world record in April. The Olympic champion Cameron van der Burgh did his best, leading the 100m right up until the final stroke when the 20-year-old overhauled him. The City of Derby swimmer again had to claw back a deficit on the South African in the 50m and then swam a blistering breaststroke leg in the mixed medley relay to become Britain’s first triple world champion swimmer. A far cry from the little boy who was so scared of water he very loudly refused to even go near the bath. He will be red-hot favourite for 100m gold in Rio.
2) James shows he is a fearless Guy
James Guy was the first British man to secure a world freestyle title when he won the 200m, which followed his silver in the 400m. The 19-year-old then chased down the US as Britain won the 4x200m relay. He says: “I never thought I’d be racing Ryan Lochte and hopefully Michael Phelps next year. He is my hero in the swimming world, racing him would be a classic experience, he is the best swimmer of all time.” The Olympic champion Yannick Agnel and Phelps may not have been in Russia but Guy has a fearlessness and desire to face the best, which will serve him well.
3) Sun Yang may not have the stomach for the fight
Sun Yang won four medals, including two golds, at the 2012 Olympics. He arrived in Russia under a cloud following a three-month doping ban served in secret last year. His target of a freestyle clean sweep from 200m upwards was scuppered by Guy. Sun chastised the media for their “very dirty thoughts” about doping being behind Chinese excellence in the pool. There was a reported altercation with a female Brazilian swimmer on the last morning before he pulled out of the 1500m freestyle, citing chest pains that night. If such a condition exists that it forces him to withdraw, then the question is whether he will even compete in Rio.
4) Sibling rivalry is warming up nicely
Sisters Cate and Bronte Campbell honed their swimming skills on Lake Malawi, also home to hippos and crocodiles, in south-east Africa. Bronte’s success irked Cate, who stole her younger sister’s medals and hid them under her bed. The family moved to Australia, where Cate enjoyed the earlier success, winning two freestyle medals at the 2008 Olympics aged 16. She became the 100m freestyle world champion in 2013 but in Kazan, Bronte stepped out of her sister’s shadow to win the 50m and 100m freestyle double. Cate had shoulder surgery 12 months ago but a return to full fitness promises to produce a fascinating spectacle next year.
5) Ledecky looks unbeatable
Katie Ledecky announced herself on the world stage at the 2012 Olympics when she eclipsed Rebecca Adlington in the 800m freestyle at the Briton’s home Games. Ledecky was only 15 and since then she has rewritten the history books. In Kazan she won all the freestyle events from 200m upwards and set three world records in the process. The American has deferred her entry to Stanford University until after the 2016 Olympics in order to concentrate on her swimming. It is hard to see who can mount any kind of challenge, given her performances are other worldly. A 200-400-800 treble is on the cards.
