Proud's points pivotal in ISL 2021 title decider

In the eighteenth and final match of season three, Ben Proud, Adam Barrett, Georgia Davies and James Guy shared in the spoils of victory as Energy Standard repeated their 2019 triumph to once again be crowned ISL champions.

Sprint-specialist Proud was at his very best for the table topping Standard, knocking 0.24 seconds off the 50m Freestyle British record he lowered just two weeks ago, to stop the clock at 20.40 on Friday night, before equalling his 50m Butterfly national record (22.18) the following evening to double up on race wins. With the Men's 50m Skins race nominated in the Butterfly stroke, Proud was again back on the starting blocks for the closing event of the title decider, and unleashed his pace once more to win the first round, which coupled with Barrett progressing among the top four for a second swim, mathematically settled the standings.

Barrett himself has had a solid season on his ISL debut, highlighted as he anchored home a Men's 4x100m Medley Relay quartet to second place in addition to further Freestyle individual and relay team contributions.

Seasoned finalists London Roar pack a large British contingent among there athlete roster, and talisman Duncan Scott was again at the forefront of making sure the team helmed by Head Coach, Steven Tigg, made themselves a threat across the final two days of action.

Sixth in the final's overall MVP standards, Scott made a rapid start to his nominated programme of events as he charged to victory in the Men's 200m Individual Medley in a new British record time of 1:51.53 seconds, before stepping back up to race to within twenty minutes to consolidate a second place for a Roar foursome the Men's 4x100m Freestyle.

In the Women's 4x100m Freestyle, Freya Anderson proved equally a valuable asset to the London team, leading them out for another second place result. Individually, Anderson's performances put her at the sharp end of both the Women's 200m and 400m Freestyle contests, kicking into the lead with 50m to go in each before being pegged back to second and third respectively by fast finishing opponents.

With checkpoint points on offer in both the 400m Freestyle and 400m Individual Medley events, plenty of team tactics were on display to maximise points hauls. Tom Dean's expertly-paced effort in the 400m Freestyle gave him a repeat of his recent playoff win, whilst Scott charged out early for the checkpoint before fading to fifth. The University of Stirling man's role however was reversed in the 400m Individual Medley, as teammate Luke Greenbank set out quickest over the butterfly and backstroke legs, beating off the challenge of Cali Condor's Brodie Williams. Come the final touch Scott had cruised to the front of the pack for his second win of the finals, whilst Williams bettered Greenbank over the full distance for third and fourth apiece. 

Adding to Roar's tally, Katie Shanahan notched up a solid fourth placed display in the Women's 400 Individual Medley as she continues to grow in experience in the senior ranks, meanwhile Greenbank also was fourth in the Men's 200m Backstroke. Away from the London cohort, Imogen Clark took fourth for LA Current in the 50m Breaststroke, having been a key attribute during the playoffs in getting her team to the final.

Final standings at the close saw Energy Standard on victorious on 534 points, ahead of Cali Condors (522), London Roar (393.5) and LA Current (305.5). Full coverage of the ISL playoffs and final can be watched back on BBC iPlayer for a limited period of time here.

A historic year for British Swimming is not over yet, as later in December a British team spearheaded by four Olympic champions will compete at the FINA World Short Course Championships in Abu Dhabi. Find out more here.

*Images courtesy of ISL