Stirling University scholar Ross Murdoch claimed bronze in the 100m breaststroke at the World Aquatics Championship. In doing so he finished just behind Gold Medallist Adam Petty and reigning Olympic Champion Cameron Van Der Burgh. In this final length of the race the 21-year-old showed true grit and determination, to move up from 5th to 3rd position and set a personal best of 59.09 seconds.
Murdoch’s route to the final was anything but easy. on Sunday Murdoch was fortunate to scrape through to the final after a fourth place finish in his semi final with a time of 59.75, which made him the slowest finalist for Monday’s race.
In a personal message to the Brig Murdoch stated;
“Was a bit gutted with my swim on Sunday..but my swim tonight proves that I deserved to be there…want to say thanks to the coaches and support staff at Stirling University who’ve supported me for the last 3 years”
Murdoch’s first global medal came on a day where some of the finest prospects in British swimmers cemented their status among the world elite. 100m Breaststroke winner Adam Peaty, besides being the fastest in his discipline, displayed an exceptional calm focus to clinch his first gold medal at a global event, after three silver medals at last years World Short Course Championships. Besides the breaststroke Britain had success in the 200m medley, with British champion Siobhan-Marie O’Connor taking bronze edging out American Maya DiRado.
