Van der Burgh heats up chilly swim prelims with world record

However, Van der Burgh’s time in the breaststroke sprint, a non-Olympic event, also matched British rival Adam Peaty’s standard set at last year’s European championships.

The 20-year-old City of Derby swimmer was trailing Cameron van der Burgh for much of the final, with the South African under world record pace at the turn.

Peaty, who also holds the world record at 57.92 seconds, said: “I turned, saw his feet and I thought ‘right, I’ve got some catching up to do now.'”.

52 seconds, with Van der Burgh bagging silver in 58.59 seconds.

“I wasn’t going for my world report, I used to be simply going for gold”, stated Peaty who set a championship document of 58.18 on Sunday to qualify for the ultimate in Kazan.

“It wasn’t the time I expected to do and it wasn’t the time I wanted, but world championship finals and Olympic finals are only about the win and I brought it home”.

Meanwhile, Siobhan-Marie O’Connor gave Britain a third medal by winning bronze in the women’s 200m individual medley.

“With 25 metres to go he was still out in front but I have trained for moments like this”.

Florent Manaudou of France won the men’s 50 butterfly in 22.97. Laszlo Cseh of Hungary and Konrad Czerniak of Poland tied for bronze in 23.15.

And the 19-year old safely secured her spot in the 200m Freestyle semi-finals, touching equal fourth in her heat to progress in 11th.

Russia’s Yuliya Efimova, whose doping ban ended earlier this year, led qualifying for the 100 breaststroke final on Tuesday night.

More records could come in the semifinals later Tuesday and the final Wednesday.

“I love Katinka”, Baker said.