2 September 2021
Clegg targeting own world record as he advances to swimming final
Stephen Clegg qualified second fastest to tee up a tilt at his own 100m butterfly S12 world record and Paralympic gold.
The Scot led from start to finish, turning in 26.98 and winning his heat in a time of 59.13 seconds.
Clegg’s focus has been laser-like on going under 56.75, the new global all-time best he set in Sheffield in April.
“I’ve had tunnel vision about setting this target and getting it,” said the 25-year-old.
The time I want to swim has been the screensaver on my phone since April.
“The time I want to swim has been the screensaver on my phone since April, not long after I broke the world record.
“I’ve got massive time targets from 25, 50, 75 all the way through to the 100m.
“I thought I was capable of more at the time and I’m glad I thought that way, I’m never satisfied with the time I do.
“I’ve been in PB form in events I’m not training in too much, which is a good omen for the event I’ve been completely focused on these last three years.“
Lyndon Longhorne was competing in his sixth and final individualevent of the Tokyo Paralympics
Clegg carries bronze medals from the 100m freestyle and 100m backstroke into the final night of racing at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.
The other heat was won by Azerbaijan’s Raman Salei – who took gold in the freestyle and backstroke – and is likely to be Clegg’s closest rival.
Meanwhile, Lyndon Longhorne lopped three seconds off his British record in the heats of the 50m backstroke S4.
He touched the wall in 50.1s2 for a ranking of 12th in the world in the event.
I feel so privileged and so happy to be here. It's what I've been dreaming of since I was a child.
It marked the end of an action-packed meet for Longhorne that has comprised six individual events.
Grace Harvey faced a quick turnaround from Thursday night’s 400m freestyle in the heats of the 100m backstroke S6.
She finished sixth in a time of 1:31.10 to end her Games campaign, highlighted by 100m breaststroke silver.
“Honestly, there aren’t enough words,” she said.
“I feel so privileged and so happy to be here. It’s what I’ve been dreaming of since I was a child and to come away with a silver medal to take back to my family is more than I could have hoped for.“
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