Adam Peaty already eyeing relay revenge after Olympic silver
They have been swimming the men’s 4x100m medley relay for 61 years at the Olympics. The only time the USA have not won was in 1980 when they did not attend.
That streak continued on the final day of action at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre but it is a mark of just how far this GB team has come that not only did they push the Americans all the way, but that the overriding emotion was one of disappointment.
After all, the Brits are the world champions and have Adam Peaty at the peak of his powers. His breaststroke leg brought them back from seventh to first, a split of 56.53 the fastest ever, only for Caeleb Dressel to produce the quickest-ever fly leg to put the US back in front.
Duncan Scott could not repeat his heroics of 2019 on the freestyle leg and overhaul the Americans, but Peaty already has his eyes on revenge in Paris in three years’ time.
He said: “We haven’t got to wait five years now to get another chance at that medley relay, which is good.
“I’ve felt that pain, I know what it’s like to come second. I don’t like it at all. Me being a competitor, it’s about how do we get in the best possible position now in the run-in to the next three years?
“Who knows what it’s going to take? It might need another world record. America might set it again if they find a breaststroker, if they close that gap.”
It is hard to imagine they will completely close the gap on Peaty. These Games have seen Katie Ledecky’s crown slip a little but the world’s greatest breaststroker remains as dominant as ever.
He has led a record-breaking British return in the pool, four golds, eight medals and finally topping the previous best haul that came in London in 1908.
In a decade, Britain’s swimmers have gone from being the poor relation in Team GB, winning three medals and no golds at London 2012, to one of the leading sports. Peaty has led that change.
He explained: “It’s the culture now. Ten years ago we were happy making finals. We aren't happy making finals anymore. We are happy doing silver and medalling – that’s the culture that is different now – and that’s part of our success.
“We are aiming for gold, we are aiming to be the best in the world and dominate the world. How do you do that when there is such depth, such a strong team in America? That’s going to be the golden question over the next three years.
“How do we all improve and perfect what should be one of the best races of all time? By the time Paris comes around we are going to develop as a team, we've got heritage, we call it the brotherhood because we have been racing together for a long time now.
“I think a lot of teams are going to look at us. We are always looking for gold, always looking for world records, I’m incredibly proud to be part of this team – it’s history making.”
If Peaty has his way, the medley relay in Paris could see a little more history made.
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