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2018 Euros: Ben Proud Cracks Textile World Record 50 Free (21.11)

2018 LEN EUROPEAN AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

While competing in the first semi-final of the men’s 50m freestyle during tonight’s finals in Glasgow, British speedster Ben Proud threw down the heat, clocking a monster time of 21.11 to take the top seed. That erased his own personal best and British National Record of 21.16 he set just weeks ago at the 2018 Sette Colli to become the 4th fastest performer ever in the event.

Proud had set the stage earlier today in prelims where 23-year-old tied Greece’s Kristian Gkolomeev for the top seed of the morning in 21.68. Proud dropped a massive .57 from that time to register 21.11, a mark which now stands as the 5th fastest performance in history. He overtakes American Caeleb Dressel’s 21.15 for the new textile world record, representing the only non-suited time among the top 5 below.

Top 5 Men’s 50m Freestyle Times Ever

  1. 20.91, Cesar Cielo, Brazail, December 2009
  2. 20.94, Fred Bousquet, France, April 2009
  3. 21.02, Cesar Cielo, Brazil, December 2009
  4. 21.08, Cesar Cielo, Brazil, August 2009
  5. 21.11, Ben Proud, GBR, August, 2018

Proud still has the finals in this event yet to come tomorrow evening.

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Canuck
6 years ago

That would have been a 20.9 if he hadn’t slowed so much into the finish, Kind of scary how fast he still went with such a relaxed finish.

Luigi
6 years ago

21.1 with a glide at the end is pretty impressive. He could shave off a few hundredths.

Swimmer!
6 years ago

A little suspicious of this young man

Maelstrom
Reply to  Swimmer!
6 years ago

Innocent until proven guilty.

Swimmer!
Reply to  Maelstrom
6 years ago

Not accusing, it’s just that GBR has been a little fishy to me in recent years across a few sports. I don’t think there is anything wrong with being suspicious of the best sprinter in the World

A$AP Pocky
6 years ago

Who will win?

1 eagle tattoo boi
1 metal nipple boi

Sqimgod
6 years ago

Someone explain to me why the number of times someone wins an event is better than how fast another person has gone in it. I.e. someone explain to me why Adrian who has won more titles yet is slower than dressel is better than dressel

PowerPlay
Reply to  Sqimgod
6 years ago

Because it’s all about winning championships by beating the best swimmers on the biggest stage, over an extended period. How swimmers handle pressure is different. Times are important, but the rules and technology have changed over the years making it hard to compare across eras. If it’s only based on your best time, than is Proud better than Dressel? Makes for a fun debate.

Zhenia
6 years ago

He’s an absolute animal. Just imagine how fast he would be if he swam in one of those 2009 supersuits…
And also this dude is one of the most consistent sprinters now, so my bet is that he’ll be the first one to crack 21 in textile.

SVIRD
Reply to  Zhenia
6 years ago

With the look of his muscle mass he would be an absolute beast in supersuits. Supersuits helped more muscley people right?

Old 80s Swimmer
6 years ago

Won’t be long before the anticipation begins…Who will be the first under 20?

25 free champ
Reply to  Old 80s Swimmer
6 years ago

Doubtful anyone can. Michael Andrew is my bet if I have to take someone. Without weights he’s approaching 21.0

Coach John
Reply to  25 free champ
6 years ago

hasn’t he been doing weights the last 12 months if not 18?

Caeleb Dressel Will Win 9 Gold Medals in Tokyo
Reply to  Old 80s Swimmer
6 years ago

1st one under 20 hasn’t been born yet

Old 80s Swimmer

I’m not so sure. Dressel’s 17.6 might be a 20.4. There might be a 6 year old watching in 2020 who will be the one….

SVIRD
Reply to  Old 80s Swimmer
6 years ago

I think Swimming will eventualllly get to where track and field is: where world records tend to stand for long stretches of time and if they are broken, it’s usually by small margins. In fact, there are some supersuited records on the books that I think are already like that (like 200m free for men, it’s not going down for a loooooong time).

I mean logically, you can’t have major time drops for forever right? Eventually you reach the limit of human possibility.

Noflykick
Reply to  Braden Keith
6 years ago

The women’s 200 fly is also going to take something that hasn’t been invented yet.

Old 80s Swimmer
Reply to  SVIRD
6 years ago

Will swimming lose some excitement if we get to the limits of performance? If so, it’s an argument for technological innovation, whether suits, pools, or something else. Stagnant WRs aren’t good for the sport, which is why people like Phelps, Ledecky, and Bolt are so important for keeping the interest not only of more casual fans but also for encouraging more kids to participate.

SVIRD
Reply to  Old 80s Swimmer
6 years ago

I think this is why it’s important to highlight the excitement of the race itself, and to keep it grounded in the moment. It always drives me nuts when announcers focus on the possibility of a record during a race as opposed to the competition itself. Like it’s fine to mention the record if it looks like it’ll be close but to overly focus on it kinda makes it anti-climatic if they don’t get it.

Focus on the drama of the race and you’ll always keep people interested imo.

Caeleb Dressel Will Win 9 Gold Medals in Tokyo
Reply to  Old 80s Swimmer
6 years ago

To be honest, I already think we should be using leggings. But when the world records stagnate, I would be in favor of bringing back the polyurethane suits, but leave the textile records as a separate category.

SVIRD

I’d have to disagree. I don’t think “because we want more world records :(” is a good reason to bring back supersuits. I like that the times are about the swimmer now. Sure it sucks that we have a bunch of seemingly unbeatable records on the books (2009 was a tragic year for swimming in that regard), but I think they’ll all start to fall eventually. Might take a couple generations for some of the more ridiculous ones tho.

DRESSEL IS GOD
6 years ago

2 nipples in 2020 could mean a 20 low.

Rafael
Reply to  DRESSEL IS GOD
6 years ago

2 Nipples + a Russian Necklace!

mcgillrocks
Reply to  Rafael
6 years ago

+ Lion tattoo

Curious Swimma
Reply to  mcgillrocks
6 years ago

Guys let’s be serious. A full sleeve is what he needs.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Rafael
6 years ago

lol so funny guys

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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