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{{Short description|British swimmer (born 1994)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox swimmer
{{Infobox swimmer
| name = Benjamin Proud
| name = Ben Proud
| image =
| image =
| fullname = Benjamin Proud
| imagesize =
| national_team = Great Britain
| caption =
| strokes = [[Freestyle swimming|Freestyle]], [[butterfly stroke|butterfly]]
| fullname =
| club = Energy Standard
| spouse =
| coach = [[James Gibson (swimmer)|James Gibson]] 2016–present<br />[[Jon Rudd (swimming coach)|Jon Rudd]] To 2016
| nationality = [[United Kingdom|British]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1994|9|21}}
| strokes = freestyle, butterfly
| birth_place = [[London]], England
| club =
| height = 1.91 m
| collegeteam =
| weight = 94 kg
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|09|21|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[London]], [[England]], [[UK]]
| Residence =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height =
| weight =
| medaltemplates =
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport | Men's [[Swimming (sport)|swimming]]}}
{{MedalSport | Men's swimming}}
{{MedalCountry | {{ENG}} }}
{{MedalCountry | {{GBR2}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Swimming at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold| 2014 Glasgow | [[Swimming at the 2014 Commonwealth Games – Men's 50 metre butterfly|50 m butterfly]]}}
{{MedalSilver|{{GamesName|SOG|2024}}|[[Swimming at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FINA World Aquatics Championships|World Championships (LC)]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2017 World Aquatics Championships|2017 Budapest]]|[[Swimming at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre butterfly|50 m butterfly]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2022 World Aquatics Championships|2022 Budapest]]|[[Swimming at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalBronze|2017 Budapest|[[Swimming at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2023 World Aquatics Championships|2023 Fukuoka]]|[[Swimming at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2024 World Aquatics Championships|2024 Doha]]|[[Swimming at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|World Championships (SC)]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2021 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|2021 Abu Dhabi]] | [[2021 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[2022 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|2022 Melbourne]] | [[2022 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[LEN European Aquatics Championships|European Championships (LC)]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2014 European Aquatics Championships|2014 Berlin]] | [[Swimming at the 2014 European Aquatics Championships – Men's 4 x 100 metre medley relay|4x100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2018 European Aquatics Championships|2018 Glasgow]]|[[Swimming at the 2018 European Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2022 European Aquatics Championships|2022 Rome]]|[[Swimming at the 2022 European Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalSilver|2018 Glasgow|[[Swimming at the 2018 European Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre butterfly|50 m butterfly]]}}
{{MedalSilver|2021 Budapest|[[Swimming at the 2020 European Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalBronze |2014 Berlin| [[Swimming at the 2014 European Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre butterfly|50 m butterfly]]}}
{{MedalBronze |[[2016 European Aquatics Championships|2016 London]]| [[Swimming at the 2016 European Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalBronze |2016 London| [[Swimming at the 2016 European Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre butterfly|50 m butterfly]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[European Short Course Swimming Championships|European Championships (SC)]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2023 European Short Course Swimming Championships|2023 Otopeni]]|50 m freestyle}}
{{MedalGold|2023 Otopeni|4x50 m freestyle}}
{{MedalGold|2023 Otopeni|4x50 m mixed freestyle}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2017 European Short Course Swimming Championships|2017 Copenhagen]]|50 m freestyle}}
{{MedalBronze|2017 Copenhagen|50 m butterfly}}
{{MedalCountry | {{ENG}}}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2014 Commonwealth Games|2014 Glasgow]] | [[Swimming at the 2014 Commonwealth Games – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalGold | 2014 Glasgow| [[Swimming at the 2014 Commonwealth Games – Men's 50 metre butterfly|50 m butterfly]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2018 Commonwealth Games|2018 Gold Coast]] | [[Swimming at the 2018 Commonwealth Games – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2022 Commonwealth Games|2022 Birmingham]] | [[Swimming at the 2022 Commonwealth Games – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalGold | 2022 Birmingham| [[Swimming at the 2022 Commonwealth Games – Men's 50 metre butterfly|50 m butterfly]]}}
{{MedalSilver | 2018 Gold Coast| [[Swimming at the 2018 Commonwealth Games – Men's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay|4×100 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalSilver | 2018 Gold Coast| [[Swimming at the 2018 Commonwealth Games – Men's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalBronze |2014 Glasgow| [[Swimming at the 2014 Commonwealth Games – Men's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay|4×100 m freestyle]]}}
}}
}}
'''Benjamin Proud''' (born 21 September 1994) is an English competitive [[Swimming (sport)|swimmer]], representing Great Britain at the [[Swimming at the Olympic Games|Olympic Games]], the [[FINA World Aquatics Championships]] and [[LEN European Aquatics Championships]], and England at the [[Commonwealth Games]]. Proud specialises in sprint freestyle and butterfly races, specifically the 50-metre distance in both.<ref name=swimming.org /> He is the [[Swimming at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre freestyle|2022 World Champion in the 50 metre freestyle]], his second long course world title. He is the 2017 world champion in the 50-metre butterfly. He is only the third male swimmer to be simultaneously short-course and long-course World Champion at 50 metre freestyle, after [[César Cielo]] and [[Florent Manaudou]].<ref name="rio2016">{{cite web |title=Ben Proud |url=https://www.rio2016.com/en/athlete/ben-proud |website=Rio 2016 |access-date=9 August 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806041509/https://www.rio2016.com/en/athlete/ben-proud |archive-date=6 August 2016}}</ref> in 2024, at his third attempt he won his first Olympic medal, a silver, in the [[Swimming at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 metre freestyle at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris]].


Proud holds two British national records, as well as being a double [[Commonwealth Games]] champion in both the 50 m butterfly (2014 and 2022) and 50 m freestyle (2014, 2018 and 2022) events. He was European Champion over 50 metres freestyle in 2018 and 2022, and was part of the 4 x 100 medley team from Great Britain which won European gold in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.alice-smith.edu.my/580/wider-learning/sport/swimming|title=StackPath}}</ref>
'''Benjamin Proud''' is a British and English swimmer, who won the 50m butterly at the [[2014 Commonwealth Games]] in [[Glasgow]].

==Early life and education==
Proud was born in London on 21 September 1994 to Nic and Sally Proud.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://swimswam.com/bio/benjamin-proud/ |title=Benjamin Proud |work=SwimSwam}}</ref> The family moved to [[Malaysia]] when he was five months old, and he grew up in [[Damansara, Kuala Lumpur|Damansara]], Kuala Lumpur.<ref name="herald">{{cite news |url=http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/when-does-ben-proud-race-in-the-olympic-50m-freestyle-in-rio/story-29610375-detail/story.html |title=When does Ben Proud race in the Olympic 50m freestyle in Rio? |author=Beren Cross |date=11 August 2016 |work=The Herald}}{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He has a brother, Oliver. He attended the Alice Smith School from kindergarten until year 12 of the school.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.teamgb.com/homegrownheroes/hh-athlete/ben-proud |title=Ben Pround – Swimming |work=Team GB}}</ref> At Alice Smith, he competed for the school and was trained by Francis Kiu, a professional Malaysian swimmer.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/sport/big-bens-proud-of-his-regional-links |title=Big Ben's proud of his regional links |date=26 July 2017 |work=The Straits Times |first=Jonathan |last=Wong}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2011/09/10/proud-mom-sally/ |title=Proud mom Sally |date=10 September 2011 |last=Ng |first=Wei Loon |work=The Star}}</ref> He swam for the school swimming team, KLASS Torpedoes, representing them at many international swim meets.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bmcc.org.my/news/alumnus-does-alice-smith-proud |title=Alumnus Does Alice Smith Proud |date=19 August 2016 |work=British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce |access-date=27 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807190414/http://www.bmcc.org.my/news/alumnus-does-alice-smith-proud |archive-date=7 August 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He swam at the Malaysian Open, winning the 50 m butterfly and placing second in the 50 m freestyle. His many swim meets across Southeast Asia included the Flying Fish meet in Phuket, Thailand.

In 2011, when he was 16, he returned to England to pursue swimming as a career, and joined [[Plymouth College]] as a swimming scholar. After finishing school, he attended [[University of St Mark & St John]] where he studied for a Sports Development & Coaching degree.<ref name="herald"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marjon.ac.uk/marjon-sport/sports-federation/talented-athlete-programme-academy-%28tapa%29/ben-proud/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150421122155/http://www.marjon.ac.uk/marjon-sport/sports-federation/talented-athlete-programme-academy-(tapa)/ben-proud/ |archive-date=21 April 2015 |title=Ben Proud |work=Marjon}}</ref> Proud was coached by Jon Rudd at the Plymouth Leander Swimming Programme in England, before he moved to train at the Energy Standard International Swim Club in Turkey in 2017.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/ben-proud-is-plymouth-s-third-world-champion-in-three-days-in-three-sports/story-30454228-detail/story.html |title=Ben Proud is Plymouth's third world champion in three days in three sports |author=Beren Cross |date=24 July 2017 |work=The Herald}}{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/olympic-finalist-ben-proud-set-to-leave-plymouth/story-30110168-detail/story.html |title=Olympic finalist Ben Proud set to leave Plymouth |author=Beren Cross |date=3 February 2017 |work=The Herald}}{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Swimming career==
Proud won a silver medal in the 50 m butterfly -his strongest event- in the European Junior Championships, which put him on the map as the fastest British sprinter at the British Gas International Meet in 2013, winning a gold in the butterfly, and going on later to win a silver in the 50 m freestyle in [[Leeds]]. After his initial victories, he rose through the ranks and broke the decade-long 50 m butterfly standing record twice, in the semis and final, giving him his first British Gas Swimming Championship title at the age of 19.

He went on the break his personal best times for the 50 m and 100 m freestyle events, earning himself a silver and bronze, as well as a spot on the British team for the 2013 World Championships being held in [[Barcelona]]. Unsurprisingly, Proud did incredibly, finishing 18th in the 50 m freestyle, and 11th in the 50 m butterfly.<ref name=swimming.org /> In 2014, still only 19 years old, Proud won his first senior international medals on his Commonwealth debut for England at Glasgow.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/proud-gives-england-first-swim-gold-20140726-3cllv.html |title=Proud gives England first swim gold |date=26 July 2014 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> The following month, Proud won a gold in the 4 × 100 m medley relay and a bronze in the 50 m butterfly for Team GB at his first [[2014 European Aquatics Championships|European Championships]].

In the [[2016 European Aquatics Championships]] in London, he won two bronze medals, first in 50m butterfly, then in 50m freestyle.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/swimming/36317893 |title=GB's Proud wins 50m butterfly bronze |date=17 May 2016 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/swimming/36354503 |title=Proud claims Euro 50m freestyle bronze |date=22 May 2016 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

Proud represented Great Britain in the 50 m and 100 m freestyle events at the [[2016 Summer Olympics]].

===2017===
At the [[2017 World Aquatics Championships]], Proud qualified as the fourth fastest swimmer at the [[Swimming at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre butterfly|50m butterfly]] semi-finals, but won a surprise gold at the final with a national record time of 22.75 seconds.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/swimming/40708360 |title=Adam Peaty retains world 100m breaststroke title & Ben Proud wins gold |work=BBC Sport |date=14 July 2017}}</ref> He won a further bronze in the [[Swimming at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50m freestyle]] in 21.43 seconds.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/swimming/40765510 |title=World Swimming Championships: Britons Ben Proud and James Guy win bronze |first=Nick |last=Hope |date=27 July 2017}}</ref>

===2018–2019===
At the [[Swimming at the 2018 Commonwealth Games|2018 Commonwealth Games]] held at the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]], Australia, Proud won silver as part of the relay team with David Cumberlidge, [[Jarvis Parkinson]] and [[James Guy (swimmer)|James Guy]] that came second in the {{nowrap|4 × 100 m}} freestyle events.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swimming.org/sport/english-men-win-relay-silver-close-second-day-gold-coast/ |title=English men win relay silver to close second day on Gold Coast |date=6 April 2018 |work=Swimming.org}}</ref> He broke his own Games record in the heats of the 50m freestyle with 21.45 seconds,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2018-04-09/plymouths-ben-proud-breaks-games-record-in-heat/ |title=Plymouth's Ben Proud breaks Games record in heat |date=9 April 2018 |publisher=ITV}}</ref> then 21.30 in the semi-finals and went on to win the final in 21.35.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/commonwealth-games/43711975 |title=Commonwealth Games: England's Ben Proud wins 50m freestyle gold |work=BBC Sport |date=10 April 2018}}</ref> He also won a silver in the {{nowrap|4 × 100 m}} medley with [[Adam Peaty]], James Guy and [[Luke Greenbank]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/commonwealth-games/43710507 |title=Commonwealth Games: Ben Proud claims gold, Caster Semenya breaks record |work=BBC Sport |date=10 April 2018}}</ref> He broke his own 50m freestyle British record at the Sette Colli meet in Rome, posting a Commonwealth record of 21.16 in the final to become the 4th fastest performer of all time over the distance.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://swimswam.com/ben-proud-becomes-4th-fastest-performer-ever-with-21-16-50-free/ |title=BEN PROUD BECOMES 4TH FASTEST PERFORMER EVER WITH 21.16 50 FREE |work=SwimSwam |date=29 June 2018}}</ref>

At the [[2018 European Aquatics Championships|2018 European Championships]] in Glasgow, Proud won a silver in the [[Swimming at the 2018 European Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre butterfly|50-metre butterfly]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.eurosport.co.uk/swimming/european-championship/2010/ben-proud-takes-silver-in-50m-butterfly_sto6878251/story.shtml |title=Ben Proud takes silver in 50m butterfly |work=Europort |date=7 August 2018}}</ref> He then broke the 50-meter freestyle textile world record with 21.11 in the semi-finals of the [[Swimming at the 2018 European Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50-metre freestyle]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://swimswam.com/2018-euros-ben-proud-cracks-textile-world-record-50free-2111/ |title=2018 Euros: Ben Proud Cracks Textile World Record 50 Free (21.11) |work=Swim Swam |first=Loretta |last=Race |date=8 August 2018}}</ref> and won his first gold of the European championships in the final.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/swimming/45134992 |title=Proud wins first European title with 50m freestyle gold |date=9 August 2018 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

In the Autumn of 2019 he was member of the inaugural [[International Swimming League]] swimming for the [[Energy Standard Swim Club]], who won the team title in Las Vegas, Nevada, in December.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://isl.global/club-rosters/ |title=Club Rosters – International Swimming League |language=en-US |access-date=2020-04-17 |archive-date=22 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022045209/https://isl.global/club-rosters/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===2021&ndash;22===
At the [[2020 European Aquatics Championships|European Championships]] held in Budapest in May 2021, Proud won a silver in the [[Swimming at the 2020 European Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://swimswam.com/2021-european-championships-day-7-finals-live-recap/ |title=2021 European Championships: Day 7 Finals Live Recap |work=SwimSwam |date=23 May 2021}}</ref>

A year later, at the [[2022 World Aquatics Championships]] held in Budapest, Proud won gold in the [[Swimming at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 50 metre freestyle|50 m freestyle]] event.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britishswimming.org/news/latest-swimming-news/proud-powers-glorious-freestyle-world-title/|title=Proud powers to glorious freestyle world title|date=24 June 2022 |work=British Swimming}}</ref>

Proud took part in the [[2022 Commonwealth Games]], and won a gold in the [[Swimming at the 2022 Commonwealth Games – Men's 50 metre butterfly|50 m butterfly]] event.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/other-sports/ben-proud-commonwealth-games-50m-butterfly-b1015724.html |title=Ben Proud bounces back from disqualification to take Commonwealth Games swimming gold| first=Matt |last=Majendie|date=30 July 2022}}</ref>

===2023===
In 2023, he won the gold medal at the [[2023 British Swimming Championships]] in the [[British Swimming Championships - 50 metres freestyle winners|50 metres freestyle]]. It was the fifth time that he had won the 50 metres event. He was also denied a seventh 50 metres butterfly title by [[Jacob Peters (swimmer)|Jacob Peters]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishswimming.org/events-and-tickets/british-swimming-championships-2023/|title=British Swimming Championships 2023 |publisher=British Swimming |access-date=20 April 2023}}</ref> In December, Proud won one of the two golds that had so far eluded him, becoming European short-course champion over 50 metre freestyle for the first time.

=== 2024 ===
After winning the 50 metres freestyle at the [[2024 Aquatics GB Swimming Championships]], Proud sealed his place at the [[2024 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://results.swimming.org/swimming/results/2024/AquaticsGBChamps/ |title=Speedo Aquatics GB Swimming Championships 2024 |website=Swimming.org | access-date=9 April 2024}}</ref>
On August 2, 2024 he placed 2nd in the final of the 50m freestyle.

==Best times==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Event !! Time (LCM)<ref name=swimming.org/> !! Time (SCM)<ref name=swimming.org>{{cite web |title=Ben Proud- British Swimming |url=http://www.swimming.org/britishswimming/swimming/mens-profiles/ben-proud/18614 |website=Skylab |publisher=British Swimming & The ASA |access-date=8 January 2016}}</ref>
|-
| 50 Freestyle ||21.11*|| 20.18*
|-
| 100 Freestyle || 48.52 || 45.97
|-
| 50 Butterfly || 22.75* || 22.18*
|}

*British Record *
*

==See also==
*[[List of Commonwealth Games medallists in swimming (men)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{British Swimming swimmer|ben-proud}}
* {{Sports links}}
* {{2018 Commonwealth Games profile|swimming/athlete-profile-n6049385-benjamin-proud|Benjamin Proud}}
* {{2022 Commonwealth Games profile|60487|Benjamin Proud}}
* {{Team England|ben-proud}}

{{Energy Standard roster}}
{{Footer World LC Champions 50m Freestyle Men}}
{{Footer World LC Champions 50m Butterfly Men}}
{{Footer World SC Champions 50m Freestyle Men}}
{{Footer European Champions 50m Freestyle Men}}
{{Footer European Champions 4x100m Medley Men}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions 50m Freestyle Men}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions 50m Butterfly Men}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Proud, Benjamin}}
[[Category:1994 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alumni of Plymouth Marjon University]]
[[Category:Swimmers from London]]
[[Category:English emigrants to Malaysia]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2014 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2018 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2022 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games medallists in swimming]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for England]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for England]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for England]]
[[Category:Olympic swimmers for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2016 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2020 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:European Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming]]
[[Category:World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming]]
[[Category:Medalists at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)]]
[[Category:People educated at Plymouth College]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Kuala Lumpur]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2018 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2024 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2024 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medallists for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists in swimming]]
[[Category:English male butterfly swimmers]]
[[Category:English male freestyle swimmers]]
[[Category:21st-century English sportsmen]]

Latest revision as of 10:52, 20 December 2024

Ben Proud
Personal information
Full nameBenjamin Proud
National teamGreat Britain
Born (1994-09-21) 21 September 1994 (age 30)
London, England
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight94 kg (207 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle, butterfly
ClubEnergy Standard
CoachJames Gibson 2016–present
Jon Rudd To 2016
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing  Great Britain
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2024 Paris 50 m freestyle
World Championships (LC)
Gold medal – first place 2017 Budapest 50 m butterfly
Gold medal – first place 2022 Budapest 50 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Budapest 50 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Fukuoka 50 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Doha 50 m freestyle
World Championships (SC)
Gold medal – first place 2021 Abu Dhabi 50 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2022 Melbourne 50 m freestyle
European Championships (LC)
Gold medal – first place 2014 Berlin 4x100 m medley
Gold medal – first place 2018 Glasgow 50 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2022 Rome 50 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2018 Glasgow 50 m butterfly
Silver medal – second place 2021 Budapest 50 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Berlin 50 m butterfly
Bronze medal – third place 2016 London 50 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2016 London 50 m butterfly
European Championships (SC)
Gold medal – first place 2023 Otopeni 50 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2023 Otopeni 4x50 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2023 Otopeni 4x50 m mixed freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2017 Copenhagen 50 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Copenhagen 50 m butterfly
Representing  England
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2014 Glasgow 50 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2014 Glasgow 50 m butterfly
Gold medal – first place 2018 Gold Coast 50 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2022 Birmingham 50 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2022 Birmingham 50 m butterfly
Silver medal – second place 2018 Gold Coast 4×100 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2018 Gold Coast 4×100 m medley
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Glasgow 4×100 m freestyle

Benjamin Proud (born 21 September 1994) is an English competitive swimmer, representing Great Britain at the Olympic Games, the FINA World Aquatics Championships and LEN European Aquatics Championships, and England at the Commonwealth Games. Proud specialises in sprint freestyle and butterfly races, specifically the 50-metre distance in both.[1] He is the 2022 World Champion in the 50 metre freestyle, his second long course world title. He is the 2017 world champion in the 50-metre butterfly. He is only the third male swimmer to be simultaneously short-course and long-course World Champion at 50 metre freestyle, after César Cielo and Florent Manaudou.[2] in 2024, at his third attempt he won his first Olympic medal, a silver, in the 50 metre freestyle at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Proud holds two British national records, as well as being a double Commonwealth Games champion in both the 50 m butterfly (2014 and 2022) and 50 m freestyle (2014, 2018 and 2022) events. He was European Champion over 50 metres freestyle in 2018 and 2022, and was part of the 4 x 100 medley team from Great Britain which won European gold in 2014.[3]

Early life and education

[edit]

Proud was born in London on 21 September 1994 to Nic and Sally Proud.[4] The family moved to Malaysia when he was five months old, and he grew up in Damansara, Kuala Lumpur.[5] He has a brother, Oliver. He attended the Alice Smith School from kindergarten until year 12 of the school.[6] At Alice Smith, he competed for the school and was trained by Francis Kiu, a professional Malaysian swimmer.[7][8] He swam for the school swimming team, KLASS Torpedoes, representing them at many international swim meets.[9] He swam at the Malaysian Open, winning the 50 m butterfly and placing second in the 50 m freestyle. His many swim meets across Southeast Asia included the Flying Fish meet in Phuket, Thailand.

In 2011, when he was 16, he returned to England to pursue swimming as a career, and joined Plymouth College as a swimming scholar. After finishing school, he attended University of St Mark & St John where he studied for a Sports Development & Coaching degree.[5][10] Proud was coached by Jon Rudd at the Plymouth Leander Swimming Programme in England, before he moved to train at the Energy Standard International Swim Club in Turkey in 2017.[11][12]

Swimming career

[edit]

Proud won a silver medal in the 50 m butterfly -his strongest event- in the European Junior Championships, which put him on the map as the fastest British sprinter at the British Gas International Meet in 2013, winning a gold in the butterfly, and going on later to win a silver in the 50 m freestyle in Leeds. After his initial victories, he rose through the ranks and broke the decade-long 50 m butterfly standing record twice, in the semis and final, giving him his first British Gas Swimming Championship title at the age of 19.

He went on the break his personal best times for the 50 m and 100 m freestyle events, earning himself a silver and bronze, as well as a spot on the British team for the 2013 World Championships being held in Barcelona. Unsurprisingly, Proud did incredibly, finishing 18th in the 50 m freestyle, and 11th in the 50 m butterfly.[1] In 2014, still only 19 years old, Proud won his first senior international medals on his Commonwealth debut for England at Glasgow.[13] The following month, Proud won a gold in the 4 × 100 m medley relay and a bronze in the 50 m butterfly for Team GB at his first European Championships.

In the 2016 European Aquatics Championships in London, he won two bronze medals, first in 50m butterfly, then in 50m freestyle.[14][15]

Proud represented Great Britain in the 50 m and 100 m freestyle events at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

2017

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At the 2017 World Aquatics Championships, Proud qualified as the fourth fastest swimmer at the 50m butterfly semi-finals, but won a surprise gold at the final with a national record time of 22.75 seconds.[16] He won a further bronze in the 50m freestyle in 21.43 seconds.[17]

2018–2019

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At the 2018 Commonwealth Games held at the Gold Coast, Australia, Proud won silver as part of the relay team with David Cumberlidge, Jarvis Parkinson and James Guy that came second in the 4 × 100 m freestyle events.[18] He broke his own Games record in the heats of the 50m freestyle with 21.45 seconds,[19] then 21.30 in the semi-finals and went on to win the final in 21.35.[20] He also won a silver in the 4 × 100 m medley with Adam Peaty, James Guy and Luke Greenbank.[21] He broke his own 50m freestyle British record at the Sette Colli meet in Rome, posting a Commonwealth record of 21.16 in the final to become the 4th fastest performer of all time over the distance.[22]

At the 2018 European Championships in Glasgow, Proud won a silver in the 50-metre butterfly.[23] He then broke the 50-meter freestyle textile world record with 21.11 in the semi-finals of the 50-metre freestyle,[24] and won his first gold of the European championships in the final.[25]

In the Autumn of 2019 he was member of the inaugural International Swimming League swimming for the Energy Standard Swim Club, who won the team title in Las Vegas, Nevada, in December.[26]

2021–22

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At the European Championships held in Budapest in May 2021, Proud won a silver in the 50 m freestyle.[27]

A year later, at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships held in Budapest, Proud won gold in the 50 m freestyle event.[28]

Proud took part in the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and won a gold in the 50 m butterfly event.[29]

2023

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In 2023, he won the gold medal at the 2023 British Swimming Championships in the 50 metres freestyle. It was the fifth time that he had won the 50 metres event. He was also denied a seventh 50 metres butterfly title by Jacob Peters.[30] In December, Proud won one of the two golds that had so far eluded him, becoming European short-course champion over 50 metre freestyle for the first time.

2024

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After winning the 50 metres freestyle at the 2024 Aquatics GB Swimming Championships, Proud sealed his place at the 2024 Summer Olympics.[31] On August 2, 2024 he placed 2nd in the final of the 50m freestyle.

Best times

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Event Time (LCM)[1] Time (SCM)[1]
50 Freestyle 21.11* 20.18*
100 Freestyle 48.52 45.97
50 Butterfly 22.75* 22.18*
  • British Record *

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Ben Proud- British Swimming". Skylab. British Swimming & The ASA. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  2. ^ "Ben Proud". Rio 2016. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  3. ^ "StackPath".
  4. ^ "Benjamin Proud". SwimSwam.
  5. ^ a b Beren Cross (11 August 2016). "When does Ben Proud race in the Olympic 50m freestyle in Rio?". The Herald.[permanent dead link‍]
  6. ^ "Ben Pround – Swimming". Team GB.
  7. ^ Wong, Jonathan (26 July 2017). "Big Ben's proud of his regional links". The Straits Times.
  8. ^ Ng, Wei Loon (10 September 2011). "Proud mom Sally". The Star.
  9. ^ "Alumnus Does Alice Smith Proud". British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce. 19 August 2016. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  10. ^ "Ben Proud". Marjon. Archived from the original on 21 April 2015.
  11. ^ Beren Cross (24 July 2017). "Ben Proud is Plymouth's third world champion in three days in three sports". The Herald.[permanent dead link‍]
  12. ^ Beren Cross (3 February 2017). "Olympic finalist Ben Proud set to leave Plymouth". The Herald.[permanent dead link‍]
  13. ^ "Proud gives England first swim gold". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 July 2014.
  14. ^ "GB's Proud wins 50m butterfly bronze". BBC Sport. 17 May 2016.
  15. ^ "Proud claims Euro 50m freestyle bronze". BBC Sport. 22 May 2016.
  16. ^ "Adam Peaty retains world 100m breaststroke title & Ben Proud wins gold". BBC Sport. 14 July 2017.
  17. ^ Hope, Nick (27 July 2017). "World Swimming Championships: Britons Ben Proud and James Guy win bronze".
  18. ^ "English men win relay silver to close second day on Gold Coast". Swimming.org. 6 April 2018.
  19. ^ "Plymouth's Ben Proud breaks Games record in heat". ITV. 9 April 2018.
  20. ^ "Commonwealth Games: England's Ben Proud wins 50m freestyle gold". BBC Sport. 10 April 2018.
  21. ^ "Commonwealth Games: Ben Proud claims gold, Caster Semenya breaks record". BBC Sport. 10 April 2018.
  22. ^ "BEN PROUD BECOMES 4TH FASTEST PERFORMER EVER WITH 21.16 50 FREE". SwimSwam. 29 June 2018.
  23. ^ "Ben Proud takes silver in 50m butterfly". Europort. 7 August 2018.
  24. ^ Race, Loretta (8 August 2018). "2018 Euros: Ben Proud Cracks Textile World Record 50 Free (21.11)". Swim Swam.
  25. ^ "Proud wins first European title with 50m freestyle gold". BBC Sport. 9 August 2018.
  26. ^ "Club Rosters – International Swimming League". Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  27. ^ "2021 European Championships: Day 7 Finals Live Recap". SwimSwam. 23 May 2021.
  28. ^ "Proud powers to glorious freestyle world title". British Swimming. 24 June 2022.
  29. ^ Majendie, Matt (30 July 2022). "Ben Proud bounces back from disqualification to take Commonwealth Games swimming gold".
  30. ^ "British Swimming Championships 2023". British Swimming. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  31. ^ "Speedo Aquatics GB Swimming Championships 2024". Swimming.org. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
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