PROUD: BRITISH RECORD WAS BIG BOOST
Plymouth swimmer Ben Proud is so fast that he beat the clock.
The 19-year-old in May clocked a British record of 21.86 seconds to win the 50metres freestyle at the South West Championships in Plymouth, but only after the settings of the electronic timing pads were altered.
"The timing system wasn't set-up to time anything quicker than 22.00," Proud told Press Association Sport ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
"I must've gone 21 seconds but it came up as 23 when my elbow hit the board (after touching with his out-stretched arm).
"The second time that happened I was a little bit frustrated, but they offered me a time-trial the next day and told me the timing system was set-up wrong.
"I managed to come back the next day and set the new British record."
For Proud, who is racing in the 50m and 100m freestyle, 50m butterfly and the 4x100m freestyle relay at his first major multi-sport Games in Glasgow, the time was a surprise.
"It felt easy to do the times," added Proud, who is ranked third in the Commonwealth behind Australians Eamon Sullivan and James Magnussen in 2014.
"To get the British record came as a big boost to my confidence. It came a bit late, didn't happen at trials, just a month after.
"I had almost a week off after the trials (in April) and only a week to prepare for that.
"I wasn't expecting anything big and it just by chance happened.
"It's taught me a lot about myself and changed the way I've tapered for this meet."
He is optimistic of breaking the record again in Glasgow and coming away with a medal.
"If I prepare properly for this one then surely I should be able to swim faster," he added.
"I'd like to hope so, because I didn't prepare well for that regional meet at all. I just want to swim fast.
"I'd like to come away with a few medals, if that's not too much to ask.
"(But) I could go in ranked first for the final and come last. I just have to be form on the day."
Proud, who spent some of his childhood in Malaysia and watched the 1998 Games in Kuala Lumpur when he was just four, is looking forward to seeing athletes from other sports in Glasgow, including another speed demon.
"Usain Bolt, the fastest man ever," Proud added of the Jamaican sprinter.
Proud is one of the younger members of a team where Liam Tancock has been there and done it.
The backstroke specialist is now 29 and bidding to put an injury-ravaged 2013 behind him by winning the 100m at a third successive Commonwealth Games.
The 29-year-old from Exeter, who has recovered from shoulder surgery, said: "This is the start of my journey on the way to Rio.
"I've had a blip in the last couple of years and I want to put that right.
"The long-term goal is Rio, that's my target. This is just the first stepping stone towards that.
"It's a little bit of an unknown in terms of what I can achieve.
"(But) I'll use that wealth of experience come Glasgow day one, to pull me through.
"I'll go out there to race and see what happens."
