Duncan Scott completed his set of golds at swimming’s major events without even getting his feet wet as the British line-up won the men’s 4x50 metres freestyle relay on the opening night of the European short course championships in Bucharest.
After the Olympic and world champion helped take down the UK record in the morning heats, Scott subbed out for the final with Ben Proud, Matt Richards, Alex Cohoon and Lewis Burras bagging victory in a new mark of 1:22.52.
It was one of two golds for the Brits with Abbie Wood and Freya Colbert making it a 1-2 in the women’s 400m individual medley.
It came after Scots star Katie Shanahan was third-fastest in the heats but was bumped out of the final with only two swimmers per nation allowed through.
But Wood thundered clear for her first major title in 4:27.45, over a second clear of Colbert with Ireland’s Ellen Walshe landing bronze.
And Wood said: "That's my first senior international individual title, so I can't be mad at that at all! It's getting my week off to a good start as well.
"I wish I'd had more confidence going into that race, I'm really glad I pulled it out in the end, so I'm really happy."
Borderer Lucy Hope landed bronze in the women’s 4x50m freestyle in tandem with Anna Hopkin, Freya Anderson and Medi Harris in a time of 1:37.19 that saw the UK follow Sweden and Italy home.
And Hope said: “The 4x50m is a bit unusual for us, it’s perhaps a bit short maybe, but really fun to get in there and kick things off with the relay."
Kara Hanlon just missed out on tonight’s 100m breaststroke final in coming fifth in her semi after setting a Scottish record of 1:05.86 in her heat.
Debut boy Even Jones and Stirling team-mate Jack McMillan crashed out in the morning heats of the men’s 400m freestyle, won by Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen.
Shanahan doubles up today in the 100m IM and 200m backstroke where Olympic gold medallist Kathleen Dawson makes her comeback from a back injury.
While Archie Goodburn gets his senior debut in the 100m breaststroke and the ex-world junior medallist, 22, is determined to fill the huge shoes of the absent Adam Peaty.
The Edinburgh-based prospect said: “Obviously he is the top of the mountain. You see his rugged determination. And sometimes, I feel those qualities within myself that I've seen in Peaty before. And that gives me inspiration.”
James Wilby, long the Robin to the Olympic champion’s Batman, has joined Peaty in giving this event a miss. Ross Murdoch and Craig Benson, their Scottish challengers, retired last year. There are only two entries per event at the Paris Olympics but genuine uncertainty about how they might be filled. It is a real incentive to push on, Goodburn concedes.
“There are booths to fill, especially in the breaststroke,” the British 50m champion underlines. “Hopefully I’m going to have the chance to race in some relays at European short-course where I'm looking to fill some big boots and really do a great job for the team. I really want to make my mark. But my thing is I think I can do the Olympic qualifying time and get near the 59 seconds.”
Elsewhere, Proud, the reigning world champion, goes for a golden double in the 50m freestyle.
