London 2012 Olympics: Michael Jamieson lifts British spirits

The Glasgow-born swimmer started the day with a personal best of 2:09.84 before breaking fellow Scot Kris Gilchrist’s British record in the heats, but his semi-final effort was truly world-class.

Only seven men have gone faster in history, with just quadruple Olympic champion Kosuke Kitajima and his Japanese countryman Ryo Tateishi quicker in textile suits.

Jamieson was fifth at last year’s World Championships but a gold medal is a distinct possibility if he can recreate today’s effort and manage his emotional energy.

Daniel Gyurta, the 2004 silver medallist, is second through, and not to be outdone by his Bath ITC team-mate Jamieson, Andrew Willis is third fastest in a new personal best of 2:08.47, also an English record.

Jamieson – who turns 24 the day after the swimming programme ends – said: “I knew I was going to have to improve on this morning to get into the final.

“I am swimming full of confidence and a swimmer with confidence racing in front of this crowd, it makes it a lot easier to swim fast.

“I could really hear those guys urging me home in the last 50 and I’m hoping they can make even more noise tomorrow night and myself and Andrew can shave some more time off.”

Benefiting from their competitive training environment under Dave McNulty, Jamieson is not getting carried away by the prospect of gold.

“Who knows? There is a long way to go. There are some massive names in that final, guys much more accomplished than me at this level.

“But I am swimming well and full of confidence so I would just like to post another PB tomorrow and hopefully that will put me where I want.”

Willis added: “I am so chuffed with that time, I knew after this morning’s time that I had a PB in me.

“To come down the last length and feel that roar, it’s like they are pushing you, driving you on, it gives you the sense to really go for it.

“I have a middle lane in the final, I couldn’t really ask for much more.

“I hope I can sleep and I will give it a go, it’s great to have my training partner in there too.”

Scotland’s Caitlin McClatchey finished seventh in the 200m freestyle which United States swimmer Allison Schmitt won in Olympic record time.

The 26-year-old McClatchey produced her best performances for years to reach the final, but she was not realistically expected to be in the battle for the title.

Schmitt, who last month swam the event faster than anyone in textiles in history, led from start to finish and touched in a dominant 1:53.61.

France’s Camille Muffat was second as the pair reversed their placings in the 400m freestyle on Sunday with Australia’s Bronte Barratt third.

McClatchey touched in 1:57.60 in what is set to be her final Olympics after three Games. She said: “I would have liked to have gone a bit faster than I did in the semi, I tried something a bit different and ended up going out too hard probably, tried to stick with Missy [Franklin] down the first length, and it took a bit more out of me.

“It was all about enjoying it tonight, I knew I would have to do something massive to get into the medals. I really enjoyed it, the crowd were fantastic again, I couldn’t ask for anything more from them. I didn’t even think I would make the final because it was such a strong event so that was a massive achievement, and I didn’t come last so that was good!”

Britain’s Ellen Gandy crashed out in the heats of the 200 metres butterfly yesterday morning after coming to the Olympics as one of the medal favourites. The 20-year-old made her breakthrough on the global stage last year when she won silver at the World Championships in Shanghai.

That had followed visits to the rostrum at the European Championships and Commonwealth Games in 2010. The Melbourne-based swimmer had endured a difficult World Championships in Rome in 2009 which she entered atop the world rankings but finished 15th over 200m and 16th in the shorter race. Gandy was eighth in the 100m earlier this week but with the 200m her favoured event, she was expected to mount a real challenge.

The former Beckenham swimmer was on course to ease through before the final length when she fell behind and was clearly struggling to respond.

Fifth in her heat in two minutes 09.92 seconds, Gandy was 17th overall, one place outside qualification.

She said: “I felt okay at the start but after 100m I felt like I had been hit by a truck. I’ve been feeling fine, no health issues, I just don’t know what happened.”

There was better news for Gandy’s friend Jemma Lowe who made it through in third place in 2mins 07.64secs.

Australian world champion James Magnussen was quickest into the 100m freestyle final.