Team GB retain Men’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Olympic Crown

In defending the title from Tokyo - James Guy, Matt Richards, Tom Dean and Duncan Scott reunited to etch another golden moment in the history of British swimming from lane four of the La Defense Arena.

The finals centre lane was set up courtesy of relay alternates Jack McMillan and Kieran Bird producing solid legs on the back of a scorching lifetime best opening split for Guy, which allowed Dean to comfortably anchor in the quartet home as top seed in the heats.

Opening up the order once again in the showpiece final, Guy produced a mature opening leg on par with his morning swim to hand the baton over to Dean in first. The individual Olympic champion from 2020 settled into his rhythm over the first several lengths, and with the USA and Australia lurking in the wings Dean found and extra burst of speed down his last 50m to maintain Britain’s lead.

A sharp takeover from Richards kept the momentum rolling, and the individual silver medallist never looked like being passed as he led the line across the distance to place Scott in the perfect position to bring it home.

Shaking off any disappointment of being on the wrong side of the touch on Monday night, Scott came into this fresh and fired up – blowing the field away with a rolling 1:43.95 split to confirm team gold and the seventh Olympic medal of his own personal collection.

Breaking new ground as the first British relay across the sports of swimming and athletics to retain an Olympic title, McMillan and Bird will also receive gold medals alongside the finals quartet for their contribution to the team’s performance in the heats.

With the gold medal around his neck, Dean commented:

"I think it does feel different to Tokyo, it feels different because I have my family and friends here in the crowd and that is the most special thing. It is all I have been thinking about since Tokyo to be honest.

"The last three years have not been a straight line for anyone, me, Jimmy and Matt and Duncan. There have been a lot of changes but we stepped up again in an OIympic year and that is really special."

"A relay 200 is so different to an individual 200 and it is a completely different tactical race. For us, it was not about times, it was put together a really well executed race. I had the American lad next to me and I kept him in my peripherals and then went at that last 50 to give Matt and Duncan the best chance."

Speaking of the trust he had in his teammates, Scott added:

"When we come together as a team, it is really special. Me and Jimmy [James Guy] were part of the team in 2016, and to get three Olympic medals in a row is amazing.

"I am just so proud of what we were all able to do out there. It was so loud, the atmosphere was phenomenal - the French team were in there so it was amazing.

"I am just proud of how we all swam our legs. Jimmy did a lifetime best this morning, his best since 2015, and then Tom and Matt also brought it back so strong. I am buzzing with that."

"[When it comes to me] I am standing behind an Olympic champion, a world champion and a world champion. I'm thinking, 'I am in a pretty good place'."

Elsewhere on the night, Anna Hopkin challenged for a place in the Women’s 100m Freestyle medal contest as she lined up among the 16 athletes vying to secure a place in the final.

A sharp start epitomised Hopkins strengths as she powered down the opening length with her classic windmill style technique to turn in third, and giving it her all down the return she got her hand to the wall sixth fastest in her semi-final which ultimately placed her 11th on the standings at her second Olympic Games.

The aforementioned relay was actually Richards second trip to the completion pool of Tuesday evening having opened the night in the Men’s 100m Freestyle semi-finals. Going from the outside lane in which he won his individual silver medal the previous evening, Richards got away well from the gun but was ultimately just shy of the pace required to book a spot in the final on this occasion – placing 12th overall.

Jacob Whittle additionally featured in the event during the morning heats session, narrowly missing out on progression in 18th.

British interest the upcoming heats session on Wednesday morning involves Oliver Morgan and Luke Greenbank in the Men's 200m Backstroke, in addition to Keanna MacInnes and Laura Stephens in the Women's 200m Butterfly. You can find details of all the upcoming aquatics disciplines schedules from Paris 2024 through our What’s On? Page.

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