image source, Adam Pretty
Hector Pardot will compete in his second Olympics
Hector Pardot won bronze in Qatar, securing Britain’s first medal in the Open Water World Championships 10km in 13 years.
It also secured Team GB’s third Olympic spot in this event at this summer’s Paris Games.
The 22-year-old becomes the first Briton to win a medal in the event since Kellyanne Payne’s gold in 2011.
Pardot needed to finish inside the top 15 to qualify for the Olympics, but he won the bronze medal in the final few strokes in Doha.
“I just wanted to qualify for the Olympics, so it would be even better if I could win a medal,” said Pardot, who competed in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
“Emotions were running pretty high as I made my way out of Tokyo with an eye injury,” Pardo said.
“I felt good throughout the whole race (in Doha) and I realized it in the last lap and executed my strategy perfectly.
“I came to Tokyo at the age of 20 and didn’t have much experience. The experience I’ve gained over the last three years will prepare me well to compete with the big boys in Paris. ”
Following Pado, there was further good news for Team GB. Tobias Robinson finished 15th, clinching the final Olympic spot in the event, and on Saturday, Leah Crisp secured a spot in the women’s event with a 17th place.
Elsewhere, Jack Laugher and Anthony Harding finished fifth in the men’s 3-meter synchro diving, which was a disappointing result.
The pair, who have already secured an Olympic spot in Paris, won two World Championship silver medals, a Commonwealth gold medal and two diving World Cup silver medals during 18 months of joint competition.
Also on Sunday, the GB women’s water polo team lost 22-10 to Italy in their first World Championship match since 2013.
The team will face Canada in Group D on Tuesday at 9 a.m. Japan time.