World Championships: Ben Proud On “Excellent” Paris, Dwelling In London & Discovering A Stability
Ben Proud sits in his house, a couple of minutes’ stroll from the London Aquatics Centre which hosted the 2012 Video games and is now the Olympic silver medallist’s coaching base.
The 30-year-old moved to Stratford, east London, shortly after his return from Paris the place he claimed the one medal that had eluded him throughout a profession through which he’s stood atop the world, European and Commonwealth podiums.
Proud was fourth within the 50 free at Rio 2016 and 5 years later in Tokyo, a joint fifth-place end alongside Kristian Gkolomeev left him desolate and on the point of retirement.
l-r: Ben Proud, Cam McEvoy, Florent Manaudou: Photograph Courtesy: Giorgio Scala, Deepbluemedia
Quick-forward to Paris and a raucous La Défense Enviornment on the night time of two August 2024. After 21.30secs within the water, Proud acquired his hand to the wall and the silver medal was his behind champion Cameron McEvoy with Florent Manaudou claiming his fourth straight Olympic medal in third.
Proud instructed Swimming World:
“For me the medal felt prefer it was catching up for what I deserved in a method. I do really feel like I’ve been in and among the many finest sprinters on the earth for a very long time and been lacking out on Olympic medals. I felt like I’d earned the precise to have one for myself. So, it felt very calming to know that I’d lastly achieved it and I might transfer on with my life.”
There was, he says, a way of reduction.
“Main into it, I didn’t want the medal as a lot as different years. I didn’t have to carry out and be on the rostrum however on the similar time there’s at all times that nagging voice in your head that’s such as you do want it, you do need it.
“That for me was the battle within the 24 hours main into the ultimate, simply riling myself up into the state that I simply wish to carry out and swim the swim I’ve been coaching for and all the pieces else doesn’t matter.
“It’s a very nervous second. You contact the wall; you flip round and there’s this time between ending and the wave that’s following you crashing into you. You could have a split-second to see a glimpse of the board and I noticed my title adopted by second in order that was an enormous weight off the shoulders, an enormous reduction. I wasn’t ecstatic – I feel if I’d gained gold like Cam it’d be very completely different – however a silver is a really pleasing place to be. It was a reduction figuring out I can get that – if I hadn’t achieved it that night time, I feel it will have been robust, however I’d have carried on with my life and been okay.”
It was his finest expertise within the sport, one the place he loved the method of the race, the end result and the ceremony the place he acquired to gather the medal itself. This time there have been no misgivings or questions.
“Even earlier than once I’d gained medals or titles, I’d nonetheless at all times have a component of doubt in my thoughts which might be like possibly somebody wasn’t there, possibly I wasn’t acting at my finest, or one thing was fairly off. Whereas that night time on the Olympics was simply excellent. It was all I might have wished. I felt I’d swum a swim that was precisely what I might do, I couldn’t have achieved it significantly better and I feel I did in addition to I might so I used to be in a position to get pleasure from that have. To be there with Flo was fairly a particular one as a result of we shared loads over the previous few years.”
He loved a low-key night with mates earlier than coming down with flu-like signs which continued for round 10 days after his return from the French capital with Proud consigned to his mattress in his Stratford house.
“It was fairly good in a method as a result of it meant I had a lot time to decompress alone and mainly come again to earth. By the point I acquired higher and I used to be doing extra social issues life simply felt very regular once more. It was so bizarre to assume I’d been on the Olympics two weeks prior. Which for me the best way I’m, that’s how I get pleasure from it probably the most. I don’t assume I wished any massive celebrations or events or issues like that, I simply wished to get again to my life and to be with my brother and go for meals and have good espresso and all these items.”
London Calling As Proud Seeks A Stability
Ben Proud: Photograph Courtesy: Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
Proud has traversed the world throughout his swimming odyssey stopping off at Kuala Lumpur, Plymouth, Bathtub, Hawaii and Gloria in Türkiye. There he developed his personal programme which was overseen by James Gibson with enter from power and conditioning coach Marco Cosso.
After discovering it arduous to duplicate that set-up and focus in London, Proud turned to Lisa Bates, the top coach of the Chelsea and Westminster membership that prepare on the Aquatics Centre.
Bates, who can also be on the GB teaching group on the World Championships in Singapore, has, says Proud, “are available to fill the footwear of James to maintain me trustworthy, hold me within the water and we’re constructing this working relationship now.”
A great working relationship with pool operator Everybody Lively means Proud can guide a lane every time he wants it – “lane 9 is my place.”
He’s nonetheless looking for the precise stability and in post-Olympic yr has stepped again from the depth of earlier years.
“Strive new issues, see what works, take a number of classes from Cam’s guide, which I’ve tried however I don’t assume it really works for me so I’m making an attempt to domesticate my very own new system that I feel works higher for me. It’s all trial and error however this yr is the yr to come back down – emotionally come down from a few years of excessive depth and attempt to strike a stability that may hold me swimming a bit bit longer.”
Firstly of the yr, he trialled doing two or three swims per week plus health club and up till the time of the British trials in April, he was doing roughly 2.5/3k per week within the pool.
By late June, that had elevated to 12k throughout seven swim classes per week with a few health club classes.
When he’s not on the Aquatic Centre or his house, Proud enjoys going into town to meet up with the likes of three-time Olympic champion Tom Dean.
“Tom is an actual go-getter: he loves London and we meet one another within the metropolis very often. I’m such an introvert – I really like staying in my place and having my time and having my espresso and my music, my little world. However then the gorgeous factor is that in 20 minutes I may be in central London having a beer or a catch-up with an in depth buddy. That for me is the right stability: I can tuck myself away and disappear for a month and get into coaching. However then each every now and then I can simply pop into London and see a buddy.
“I wouldn’t say I’m benefiting from London dwelling however I’ve the chance to strike that stability and London actually works for me.”
His long-term plan is to remain in adequate form to think about the LA Video games in 2028 as an choice whereas taking it one yr at a time. The preliminary plan was to spend a yr in London to see whether or not dwelling in one of many world’s nice cities and swimming can go hand in hand.
It additionally provides Proud the chance to find out about himself.
“I spent so a few years away that I simply wish to be a bit regular actually. I haven’t had that normality in life for therefore lengthy making an attempt to determine who Ben Proud the individual is and it’s good to have my very own issues and have a spot I can name my very own and at 30 years previous, it’s been some time since I’ve been in a position to do this.”
Wanting To Singapore
Ben Proud: Photograph Courtesy: Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
Proud will tackle the 50 free and 50 fly on the World Championships. His season’s finest within the former stands at 21.67 en-route to the British title in April, making him the joint eighth-swiftest performer in 2025 with McEvoy atop the rankings in 21.30.
The Briton is the one man to have concurrently held the world, Commonwealth and European 50 free titles, a feat he completed in the summertime of 2022. Proud has subsequently gained bronze on the two editions since Budapest 2022.
He gained the 50 fly world title at Budapest 2017 and he factors to how the occasion – which can be contested at LA2028 – has moved on when it comes to velocity. Ilya Kharun tops the rankings in 22.68 with Proud’s 2025 finest standing at 23.20 on the Sette Colli.
Proud, whose British document stands at 22.75 en-route to the 2017 world crown, mentioned: “The 50 fly has turn into an occasion which out of the blue everybody is ready to do and everyone seems to be swimming actually quick. My hopes for which are that it’s a bit extra open and I’m not holding myself accountable to being within the remaining or making the rostrum: it actually relies upon what my physique can produce. I again myself within the means to carry out in addition to I can below the strain however as a result of there are such a lot of folks now who’re swimming 22.7 or faster, it’s robust to compete towards that.
“The main target remains to be on the freestyle.”
Born in London, Proud grew up in Kuala Lumpur after his dad and mom Nick and Sally moved to the Malaysian capital. His expertise caught the attention of coach Francis Kiu who guided him till he was 16 when he moved to Plymouth Faculty.
He’s spent lots of time within the area and returned there in 2021 to spend time working with Kiu.
He mentioned: “The truth that world champs is coming to Singapore and I nonetheless have lots of shut ties to Malaysia meant final yr behind my thoughts (I assumed) it’ll be one thing good to purpose for and good to attain.
“It does strike a very good observe; dad can be an hour’s flight away and it’s going to be thrilling to have a bit extra familiarity with the tradition.”
