Sam Williamson has claimed Australia’s first gold medal of the world swimming championships in the 50m breastroke in Doha overnight.
Williamson was the fastest qualifier heading into the final and lowered his own personal best and Australian record to touch the wall first in 26.32sec.
The 26-year-old finished ahead if Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi (26.39) and the USA’s Nick Fink (26.49). Great Britain’s Adam Peaty was fourth.
It was Williamson’s first individual gold medal at an international event and his time was the fourth fastest 50m breastroke in history.
He won silver in the event at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and picked up several medals in medley relays over the past two years.
“I’m really at a loss for words,” Williamson said.
“Eighteen months ago, I watched this race from the couch at home. Last year at the worlds, I was in lane eight, so just to get a chance to race these guys – I mean, they’re my heroes – it’s pretty special.”
Unfortunately for Williamson, the 50m breastroke is not an Olympic event.
Williamson’s victory was Australia’s first gold medal of the world swimming championships.
Many Australia’s Olympic champions and top swimmers aren’t competing in Doha, choosing to stay at home and train in preparation for the trials and Paris Olympics.
It’s the first time a world long course championships has been held in the same year as an Olympic Games, and the likes of Kyle Chalmers, Zac Stubblety-Cook, Ariarne Titmus, Kaylee McKeown and Emma McKeon have opted to give them a miss.
It means Australia’s all conquering women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team were just beaten by the Netherlands on the opening day of the world titles as Shayna Jack charged home on the anchor leg.
Australia’s Brianna Throssell claimed bronze in the women’s 200m freestyle in a time of 1:56.00, while Elijah Winnington now has a pair of silvers in the 400m and 800m freestyle.
The team of Brad Woodward, Williamson, Throssell and Jack combined to take silver behind the USA in the mixed 4x100m medley relay.
Teenager Iona Anderon also won silver in the 100m backstroke on Wednesday.
Cameron McEvoy claimed bronze in the 50m butterfly earlier this week and is a red hot chance to win the 50m freestyle this weekend after victory in the one-lap dash at last year’s world titles.
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