Hector Pardoe delivered a scintillating swim in Setubal to follow in Alice Dearing’s footsteps and earn Team GB a men’s 10km marathon swimming quota place at Tokyo 2020.
Dearing had finished fourth just 24 hours earlier in the women’s race and Pardoe, racing alongside compatriot Tobias Robertson, went even better as he won the men’s contest to book the British contingent a spot in Japan.
Robertson finished second in the Portuguese water as both he and Pardoe provided a dominant display of their credentials in the hotly-anticipated Olympic qualifier.
What an end to a 2 hour race! 🔥⏱@hector_pardoe takes the win in Setubal, earning the quota place available to @TeamGB @tobiasrobinson_ in a 📸 finish for second with a stunning swim in its own right 👏 pic.twitter.com/E92hWPcvzF
— British Swimming (@britishswimming) June 20, 2021
Only one swimmer per country could earn a qualification spot, with the nine highest-placed athletes in both the men’s and women’s races securing their nation a place at the Games.
And with Pardoe and Robinson in this sort of form, Great Britain’s chances were never in doubt, with both perfectly positioned towards the front as the gruelling two-hour race reached its climax.
Precocious Pardoe, 20, romped home in first while Robinson, 24, claimed second in a photo finish as Team GB were booked a quota spot at the Games in style on Sunday.