Tokyo 2020: Team GB claim one-two in men’s 200m freestyle

Swimmer Tom Dean clinched Britain’s fourth gold of the Tokyo Games with a superb display in the men’s 200m freestyle, winning in one minute 44.22 seconds and securing a British record in the process.

He finished just 0.04 seconds ahead of his teammate, Duncan Scott, while Brazil’s Fernando Scheffer took the bronze a further 0.4 seconds back.

The result is a fantastic start to Day Four of the Games for Team GB, and the first time since 1908 that two male British swimmers have finished on the Olympic podium together.

Dean’s victory is all the more impressive given that his training routine was thrown into disarray after he twice contracted Covid-19 last year, and that Scott was the favourite for the win after setting the quickest qualifying time in Monday’s semi-finals.

At the halfway stage, Scott was down in sixth place, while Dean was in third heading into the final 50 metres, but both finished strongly to claim their medals, high-fiving and hugging as their podium finishes were confirmed.

After the victory, Dean said: “I knew it was going to be a dogfight. I didn’t know how people were going to swim it. I just want to say thanks to everyone back home. I’m just lost for words. It’s amazing.”

Scott added: “A massive credit to Dean. That was unbelievable. Olympic champion. He’s come along so far in the last 18 months, it’s a pleasure to watch. It’s great to be able to say he’s a good mate out of the pool and it’s great to be able to compete against him as well.”