There were three new British records set on day one of the National Swimming Championships, while Jess Ennis-Hill puts her retirement plans on hold with gold in Rio her only focus for 2016. Here's our review of the last 24 hours.
Proud on cloud nine after record-breaking swim British swimmer Ben Proud admitted even he could not believe his own time, after the 21-year-old broke Mark Foster’s 15-year British short course record in the 50m Freestyle on Friday.
Records tumbled on day one of the ASA National Swimming Championships (25m) in Sheffield as both Lizzie Simmonds and Imogen Clark also become new British record holders.
National Centre Bath swimmer Simmonds now tops the all-time British standings in the 100m Backstroke after touching the wall in 56.35, while Clark broke the oldest British short course record in the history books during the final of the 50m Breaststroke – the 16-year-old Derventio swimmer swimming a 30.02 to secure gold.
But arguably the swim of the day came from Plymouth Leander swimmer Proud, whose time of 20.74 in the 50m Freestyle broke former Olympian Foster’s record that had stood for 15 years.
“I’m really pleased,” Proud said. “This morning I swam a 22 so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect tonight but I felt really fast and I was just trying to think about getting all the detail right.
“As soon as I nailed my turn, I knew it was going to be a fast swim but I didn’t think it would be sub 21 seconds.”
Retirement may already be on her mind but current Olympic and world heptathlon champion Jess Ennis-Hill insists any plans to hang up her spikes won’t be made until after the Rio Olympics.
The 29-year-old has enjoyed a sensational return to form since taking a break from athletics to become a mother, winning heptathlon gold in August’s World Championships in Beijing.
Ennis-Hill is now second favourite behind Team GB teammate Andy Murray to win Sunday’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, after which her thoughts will turn firmly to defending her Olympic title in Rio.
But despite confirming next summer will be her final tilt at Olympic glory, Ennis-Hill is adamant she will not be distracted by making any official announcements concerning her retirement.
“I am thinking about when I retire but have not made any firm decisions. I think that will happen post Rio,” she told the Yorkshire Post.
“I do always have one eye on the future and think I will want to remain involved in sport in some capacity, but not as a pundit.
“My plans are not yet in place for 2016 – but I will do a few indoor competitions and then focus on the outdoors.”
Giles Scott once again led the charge for Britain’s sailing team, with three British boats topping the standings in the Finn, 49er and women's 470 leaderboards after day four of the Copa Brasil de Vela in Rio.
World Champion Scott won both races in the Finn and takes a three-point lead from Vasilij Zbogar of Slovenia with Caleb Paine of the USA in third.
Hanna Mills and Saskia Clark took back the lead of the women's 470 with a second and first place finish from their two races, and are now five points clear of French pairing Camille Lecointre and Helene DeFrance while Tina Mrak and Veronika Macaro of Slovenia are third.
In the 49er, John Pink and Stuart Bithell went eight points clear of Yago and Klaus Lange of Argentina, finishing second and third.
In the men's 470, Luke Patience and Chris Grub also impressed as they clicked to win both their races and surge up the leaderboard to fifth place overall, but they are still well behind leaders Mat Belcher and Will Ryan of Australia who stretched their lead to 24 points.
With 2015 coming to a close we have taken a look back at some of the highlights of an historic year for Britain’s athletes.
From Australia to Azerbaijan and everywhere in between we reflect on the highs and lows from January to June in the first of our two-part review of the last 12 months. Click here to relive the memories.
Today is day six of our guess the athlete competition where you can win £2000 to spend at DFS if you’re able to guess correctly. Just click here to have a go.
Sportsbeat 2015