But world champ Seto suffers shock medley swim exit

Mixed fortunes: Britain’s Adam Peaty reacts after winning a heat for the men’s 100m breaststroke. Right: Katinka Hosszu of Hungary finished fourth in the 400m individual medley heat. — AFP/Reuters

TOKYO: Britain’s Adam Peaty clocked a scorching heat time to kickstart the defence of his Olympic 100m breaststroke crown on the opening day at the Tokyo pool, but Japanese world champion Daiya Seto failed to make the 400m medley final.

Peaty, 26, who has lowered the world record five times and is arguably the greatest ever over the distance, hit the wall in an eye-catching 57.56 sec.