Australian swimmer Matthew Wilson equals 200m breaststroke world record at South Korea world titles

Australian swimmer Matthew Wilson, 20, equals the 200m breaststroke world record – and says he’ll celebrate by watching a replay of his beloved Cronulla Sharks

  • Matthew Wilson has equalled the 200m breastsroke world record 
  • Australian, 20, clocked two minutes, 06.67 seconds at the world swimming titles 
  • ‘I was just trying to get my hand on the wall and get in the final,’ Wilson said 

Australian swimmer Matthew Wilson has equalled the 200m breaststroke world record. 

The 20-year-old Australian clocked two minutes, 06.67 seconds to win his semi-final at the world swimming titles in South Korea on Thursday night – the same world mark set by Japan’s Ippei Watanabe in 2017.  

‘I was just trying to get my hand on the wall and get in the final,’ Wilson said.

‘Anything after that was a bonus. I mean a world record is a pretty big bonus.

‘I’ll just go back and I’ll probably watch the footy when I get back, the Cronulla Sharks are playing, that’s my team.

‘They weren’t going very well last time I checked but I’ll do that and it’ll take my mind off the swimming.’

He will like what he sees.

Cronulla pulled off a 16-14 win over the Cowboys to stay in the finals hunt.

But no doubt looking up at the world titles timesheets after the 200m semis gave Wilson more joy.

Australian swimmer Matthew Wilson has equalled the 200m breaststroke world record

Australian swimmer Matthew Wilson has equalled the 200m breaststroke world record

He equalled the world record after battling to even make the Dolphins team not so long ago.

At the Rio Olympic trials, Wilson was a shattered man after falling short of qualifying for the 200m breaststroke selection by 0.26 of a second.

If that wasn’t bad enough, Wilson then missed Rio 100m breaststroke qualification by an agonising 0.03.

Now two years after finishing last in the 200m final at the 2017 world titles, Wilson is the hot favourite to claim gold in South Korea.

The Pan Pacs and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist came into the world titles with the 200m breaststroke world No.3 ranking.

Remarkably Wilson pulled off the record backing up from featuring in Australia’s 4x100m mixed medley gold medal win on Wednesday night.

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk