Rio Olympics 2016: Adam Peaty Blasts His Way To Britain’s First Olympic Gold

World record. Boom!
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Article originally published 08/08/2016: due to a technical issue this article may have resurfaced for some readers, and the original publish date may not have been visible.

Adam Peaty has blasted his way to Britain’s first Olympic gold medal in Rio - smashing the world record in the process and giving early risers in the UK good reason to have set their alarm clocks for 3am.

The 21-year-old from Uttoxeter won the 100m breaststroke in an astonishing 57.13 - beating the record he set a day earlier. For context, he was 1.5 seconds clear of his nearest rival, a huge difference.

Britain's 1st #Rio2016 medallist.✔️
Broke own world record. ✔️
Beat field by 1.5s. ✔️

Adam Peaty - just brilliant! https://t.co/kg2Cw18LOM

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 8, 2016

Brits watching at home generated the #UpAtThreeForAdamPeaty, which started trending as just before his final - scheduled at 2.53am BST.

There was delight from all quarters after the two-lap triumph ...

... from fellow gold medal Olympians ...

Yes!! GOLD!!!! @adam_peaty and @massivemel dream team!! Congratulations!! SMASHED THE WORLD RECORD!!!

— Becky Adlington (@BeckAdlington) August 8, 2016

Wow @adam_peaty swimming royalty! Welcome to the golden club 🏅🎉👌🏻

— Greg Rutherford (@GregJRutherford) August 8, 2016

... the rest of Team GB, who loved it ...

Our 1st Olympic GOLD! And a World record @adam_peaty ! Watched by @TeamGB in the holding camp pic.twitter.com/XbKm8awomT

— Asha Philip (@MissAshaPhilip) August 8, 2016

... and, most importantly, his family. Here’s #OlympicNan ...

My Grandson has done it 👏👏🏊🏻🏊🏻👍@adam_peaty @britishswimming @adam_peaty

— Mavis (@Mavise42Mavis) August 8, 2016

Well you have done it @adam_peaty you have made it, your hard work paid off. Congratulations to you and @massivemel. So proud love Nan x

— Mavis (@Mavise42Mavis) August 8, 2016

... and his parents and girlfriend ...

"I need to pinch myself!"

Adam Peaty's family are over the moon! #Rio2016https://t.co/NEtQ5n19sH https://t.co/pWe3KOevs7

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 8, 2016

'it was good' - Adam Peaty's understated dad there #swimming

— General Boles (@GeneralBoles) August 8, 2016

Just minutes later, Team GB’s Jazz Carlin bagged a superb silver medal for in the 400 metres freestyle final. It already beats the country’s performance in the pool in London.

Jazz Carlin gets her hands on that precious silver medal... she can hardly believe it! #Rio2016 https://t.co/IfOpnxP05s

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 8, 2016

Here’s the Peaty triumph in pictures:

David Gray / Reuters
David Gray / Reuters
David Gray / Reuters
Owen Humphreys/PA Wire
David Gray / Reuters
Matt Slocum/AP
Matt Slocum/AP
Stefan Wermuth / Reuters
David Gray / Reuters
David Gray / Reuters
Owen Humphreys/PA Wire
Stefan Wermuth / Reuters
Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

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