RIO OLYMPICS: Walker-Hebborn and relay team break record on way to final

Bury St Edmunds-raised swimmer Chris Walker-Hebborn helped Team GB set a new British record on their way to the Men’s 4x100m Medley Relay at the Rio Olympics this evening.

The former King Edward VI School pupil got the team off to a strong start with his backstroke leg seeing him pass over to 100m breastroke gold medallist and world record holder Adam Peaty with a fractional lead.

Walker-Hebborn had been looking to overcome his disappointing semi-final exit in the men’s 100m backstroke almost a week ago and swam his leg in 53.68 seconds, having hit the turn in second place.

Peaty built up a strong lead to put Great Britain 1.76 seconds ahead of their nearest challengers — the Russian Federation — at the halfway stage.

James Guy maintained the team’s position at the front before Scott Duncan brought them home in a new British record of 3mins 30.47secs (previously the record stood at 3.30.67). Australia were second in 3.32.57.

Team USA won heat two in 3.31.83 meaning Great Britain were the fastest qualifiers for Saturday evening’s final (3.04am Sunday BST) by 1.4 seconds.

The Great Britain team, featuring Walker-Hebborn, won gold with the team at the 2014 Commonwealth Games as well as retaining their European Championships title earlier this year.

* Check back on this website on Sunday morning for result.