Ben Proud Shines at Paris 2024 Swimming Heats

Ben Proud made a big splash in the men’s 50m freestyle heats, leading the charge for Team GB‘s swimmers during the morning session in Paris. He confidently booked his spot in the semi-finals, showcasing solid performances across the board.

Alongside Proud, swimmers Duncan Scott and Tom Dean also advanced to their respective semi-finals, with the duo shining in the men’s 200m individual medley. Meanwhile, in the women’s 200m backstroke, Honey Osrin and Katie Shanahan continued to keep Team GB’s hopes alive, both qualifying for the next round.

Proud, who is solely focused on the 50m freestyle event at these Olympics, shared his thoughts on the pressure of the semi-final. “It can go wrong within 21 seconds and that’s it, four years of training and it’s over,” he remarked, acknowledging the high stakes of competing. He also referenced a fellow athlete’s recent disqualification, emphasizing how intense the competition can be.

The women’s 4x200m freestyle relay team showed their strength as they secured a place in the final, finishing third in their heat. Freya Anderson stood out with her impressive leg of the relay, helping the team stay in contention against powerful competitors like the USA and Australia.

Shanahan expressed her excitement about the upcoming semi-finals, stating, “I’d say I really like doing 200 back, it’s one of my favourite events to do, so I’m excited to be racing.” Her fellow swimmer, Osrin, was pleased with her performance as she kept close to Canada’s Kylie Masse during their heat.

The atmosphere at the Paris la Défense Arena was electric, with some swimmers commenting on how the crowd noise amplified their competitive spirit. Anderson mentioned that it was the loudest she had ever experienced, and it certainly added energy to the event.

As the competition heats up, all eyes are on Team GB as they battle for medals in the pool at these Olympics. With proud performances already delivered, there’s still plenty more to come from this talented team.