British Olympic history continues to be made at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre as the men’s 4x200 freestyle relay team claimed a brilliant gold medal in the pool.
That means Team GB have won three swimming golds at a single Games for the first time since 1908 – also the last time a British quartet climbed the top step of the 4x200m freestyle relay podium.
After Tom Dean and Duncan Scott's historic one-two in the individual event on Tuesday, Team GB were favourites heading into the relay – having also qualified fastest from the semi-finals – but Olympic finals are never won on paper.
Thankfully, however, this one followed the form book as the four Brits delivered a tour de force performance.
Dean led the team out, touching third at the end of his 200m, before James Guy overhauled the swimmers in front to put Team GB in the lead and Matt Richards – pulled out of the individual 100m freestyle event to focus on the relay – maintained the advantage.
The split times tell the story of a team all playing their part. Dean's 1:45.72 kept Team GB in touch with a charging Kieran Smith of the United States, before the experienced Guy pulled out a 1:44.40, the second fastest of the race.
Richards, just 18 years-old, then showed no nerves and produced a mightily impressive 1:45.01.
To put into context his remarkable rise, he wasn't even born the last time a team other than the USA, won this event at an Olympic games.
Richards said: “When you’re racing with guys like this, having a good leg comes easy.
"When they [Tom Dean and James Guy] set me up as well as they did and then you know you’ve got one of the best freestylers in the world and one of the best freestylers ever going behind you, the privilege and confidence it gives and the experience it gives for someone my age, money can’t buy that."
This gave three-time Olympic silver medallist Scott an anchor-leg lead that he never looked likely to relinquish, as he duly produced a stunning 1:43.45.
Tears of sheer joy from James Guy!
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 28, 2021
This is what it means to win gold for #TeamGB!
What a fantastic race and what a fantastic moment 🥇#bbcolympics #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/uv0XHaxTJq
He touched the wall three seconds ahead Mikhail Dovgalyuk, with the British team also just missing out on world record by three-hundredths of a second. Scott jokingly said after the race he was 'a bit gutted' they narrowly missed out on setting the fastest time ever.
The celebrations, with Guy once again in tears, spoke to the magnitude of the moment as Team GB’s swimming class of 2020 continue to rip up the record books.
The 25 year-old from Bury said: "As a kid, winning an Olympic gold medal was my absolute dream and to do it after 25 years is pretty emotional. “With these lads here, we’re the best freestylers in the world – my teammate [Tom Dean] and Duncan Scott getting first and second, it’s just amazing how things progress." GB's first triple swimming gold medal haul since 1908 wasn't the only piece of history.
That was 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲! 🔥😍🥇@tomdean00, @Jimbob95goon, @M4ttRichards and @Dunks_Scott take 4x200m Freestyle gold in a time just outside the world record!
— British Swimming (@britishswimming) July 28, 2021
Special mention also to @CalumJarvis who played his part in this victory swimming in the heats #TeamGB pic.twitter.com/cYRpAJcfQB
In picking up his second gold medal of the Games, Dean becomes the first British male to win double Olympic swimming gold in 113 years, when Henry Taylor won three at London 1908.
He said: "I can’t even put it into words, I couldn’t yesterday [after winning the 200m freestyle gold] and I don’t think I can today. "I can’t thank these boys enough from the bottom of my heart, it was unreal. I train with this man [James Guy] every single day and you can see how much this means to us."
The remarkable charge to gold was not only a four-man effort. Dean, 21, was quick to praise the team's fifth man. "We couldn’t have done it without Calum Jarvis [who competed in the heat], thank you so much.
"It’s a five-person relay.”