By Alan Baldwin
PARIS (Reuters) – Tom Dean, Duncan Scott, James Guy and Matt Richards won the 4×200 freestyle Olympic relay in Tokyo three years ago without friends and family present due to COVID-19 restrictions so on Tuesday they did it again, as it should have been.
The same four Britons repeated the feat at a Paris La Defense Arena filled with thousands of roaring spectators.
The atmosphere, so sadly missing at the previous spectator-free Games, was electric as Britain beat the United States and Australia.
“It feels different for so many reasons,” Dean told reporters.
“It feels different because my family and friends were there in the crowd, and that’s the most special thing. It’s all I’ve been thinking about since we won it in Tokyo, wanting to do it again.
“It feels different because it’s the same quartet to defend an Olympic title. I think that’s the first time it’s ever happened.
“It feels different because the last three years haven’t been a straight line for anyone. Me, Jimmy, Matt, Duncan, there have been a lot of changes but we stepped up again in an Olympic year, and that’s what’s really special.”
Guy led off in a lifetime best time, with Dean and Richards following before Scott headed home as if chased by a shark.
“To walk out and see them there cheering for all of us — Deano’s family, my family, Matt’s and Duncan’s — these memories don’t come around very often so to have them there… is fantastic,” said Guy.
“My mum and dad moved down to Somerset for me, my girlfriend moved jobs for me. To actually get the reward we want, and the right medal, is very special.”
The gold was Scott’s seventh medal from three Games, a record for a British swimmer and putting him level with cycling great and fellow-Scot Chris Hoy, even if the two-wheeled knight won six golds and a silver.
Scott has two relay golds and five silvers.
“I’m nowhere near the level of athlete Chris Hoy has been, I think that’s taking away from what he’s achieved,” he said. “I’ve had so many medals won by relay teammates. I can’t thank them enough for what they do and how much they’ve done.
“I don’t think I should ever be compared to Chris Hoy. He’s well above what I’ve achieved. It’s pretty cool in terms of numbers, but he’s got quite a few better colours than I do.”
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Toby Davis)
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