Olympic Champions set to star on second day at Tollcross

There is still plenty of action to look forward to during the second day of Swimming at the Glasgow 2018 European Championships.

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Olympic Champions Adam Peaty (GBR), Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) and Pernille Blume (DEN) are set to star on the second day of Swimming at Tollcross International Swimming Centre.

Peaty was 1.19 seconds quicker than his nearest rival in qualifying for the final of the 100m breaststroke in 58.04, the ninth fastest time in history and one only he has bettered.

The 23-year-old suffered his first defeat at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, when he was beaten by South African Cameron van der Burgh but he believes he is a changed man now.

“I am a completely different guy really,” he said. “I am just racing for the enjoyment and to make my family proud instead of all this extra stuff that’s around me. I am back to enjoying it, back to doing what I do.

"(I need) to get a good night’s sleep tonight and hopefully (swim) a good final.”

Sjostrom will go for her fourth European 100m butterfly title in the race immediately following Peaty.

“It's so good to experience such a great atmosphere here and a real competition," said the Olympic and World Champion in the event. "I am confident I will win. I am in control and I have improved my technique."

She will return to the pool later to contest the 50m freestyle final, in which Blume set a championship record of 23.85 in the semi finals. Robert-Andrei Glinta (ROU) was just 0.08 seconds outside the world record in qualifying for the 50m backstroke final in 24.12.

Simona Quadarella (ITA) heads the qualifiers for the women’s 800m freestyle final.

The men’s 100m freestyle gets under way with a field including Duncan Scott (GBR) and defending champion Luca Dotto (ITA).

Olympic Champion Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA) starts his campaign in the 1500m freestyle as he looks to claim his fourth successive European title. The Italian is the second fastest in history but 400m freestyle winner Mykhaylo Romanchuk (UKR) took second at the 2017 World Championships in Budapest.

The men’s 200m butterfly will see the first appearance of Kristof Milak (HUN), the 18-year-old who is the third fastest man in history behind Michael Phelps (USA) and Laszlo Cseh (HUN).

Saturday's programme also features a new event in competitive swimming, the mixed 4x200m freestyle.