Anna Hopkin set a new British record in the Women’s 100m Freestyle as Team GB’s swimmers continued their fine form in Wednesday’s heats session.

Hopkin was the first Brit in action at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre this time around, and she was quick to make a statement against a packed field in the sixth 100m Freestyle heat.

The Chorley sprinter got off to a strong start and turned second, before touching third in a time of 52.75, knocking 0.12 seconds off Francesca Halsall’s 12-year-old record in a race that also saw Australia’s Emma McKeon break the Olympic record.

She has now qualified for the semi-final in the 100m Freestyle.

“I was looking at the names in my heat, that could’ve been an Olympic final, it was that stacked!” said Hopkin.

“I didn’t really focus on what anyone else was doing, I just swam my own race and felt really good coming down the second 50m. I was pretty surprised with the time, though, but it was amazing.”

On Friday, Hopkin goes in the heats for the 50m freestyle.