Hynd promises more after smashing world record

 

 By Chris Cottrell, Sportsbeat, in Manchester

SAM Hynd admits he has set the tone for the rest of the year after lowering his own world record to claim gold at the BT Paralympic World Cup.

 

IMPRESSIVE: Sam Hynd celebrates after breaking his own world 400m freestyle record in Manchester (Action Images)

The 18-year-old clocked 4:26.08 minutes to top the podium in the 400m freestyle, beating his previous best set on the way to Paralympic gold by 0.17 seconds.

Such was Hynd's dominance he finished over 12 seconds ahead of silver medallist Christoph Burkard and a further three in front of Jiachao Wang.

And with the World Championships Hynd's next target, in less than three months, he knows gold and another world record will be expected in Eindhoven.

"Hopefully this has really laid down a marker now. Other than the Australians not being here, most of my competitors were in the race so it's showing everyone what I can do," said Hynd.

"I've shown everyone that I can break the world record. 

"This is a benchmark - this is what I can do at the World Cup and this is what I am going to do in the World Championships.

"I didn't really expect to break the world record but I knew if I was in a race I could do it and I feel so relieved.

"It's strange because when you are racing you could feel really good but you are not making the times. This time though I felt really good and the time showed that."

Meanwhile, Charlotte Henshaw also set a new world record on the way to topping the podium in the 100m breaststroke at the Manchester Aquatics Centre.

Henshaw not only pipped fellow Brit and Paralympic champion Liz Johnson to gold but also lowered her rival's world record by 0.02 seconds after touching home first in 1:39.56 minutes.

And while hopeful of setting a new world record at the World Cup Henshaw admitted she wasn't expecting it with August's World Championships in Eindhoven the main priority.

"It was really unexpected to be honest. I wanted to swim quickly but obviously our main focus are the World Championships," said Henshaw.

"I really wanted to come here and put in a good performance but I really wasn't expecting to go that quickly so it's fantastic."