Tom Dean and Duncan Scott win gold and silver in 200m freestyle – the first time since 1908 two male Team GB swimmers finish on the same Olympic podium – as duo back up Adam Peaty’s 100m breaststroke success
Tom Dean became the first British man to win an Olympic freestyle gold in 113 years as he stormed to victory in a Team GB one-two with Duncan Scott.
The 21-year-old followed the lead of Adam Peaty as he touched the wall in the 200metres freestyle in a British record of 1min 44.2sec, just 0.04sec ahead of Scott in silver.
Dean’s win was the fourth gold for Team GB at these Games and, with Scott’s second place, they now have 10 medals altogether – three of them coming in the pool.
Tom Dean (R) and Duncan Scott (L) claimed gold and silver in the men’s 200m freestyle
Dean became the first British man to win an Olympic freestyle gold in 113 years
Duncan Scott (L) won a third Olympic medal after he also won two relay silvers at Rio 2016
It was mechanical engineering student Dean’s first medal against a full international field and he is just the second British man after Peaty to have struck gold in 33 years.
For Scott, this was a third Olympic medal after he also won two relay silvers at Rio 2016.
His time was also his personal best and he finished 0.44sec clear of Brazilian Fernando Scheffer, who won bronze.
It was the first time since 1908 two Brits have shared the top two spots on an Olympic podium in swimming, with Henry Taylor and Thomas Sidney Battersby winning gold and silver in the 1500m freestyle in London 113 years ago.
His time was also his personal best and he finished 0.44sec clear of Brazilian Fernando Scheffer
But Dean nevertheless stole the show and touched the wall in a British record of 1min 44.2sec
Dean – who has suffered from Covid twice in the last 18 months – said : ‘I knew it was going to be a dog fight. I didn’t know how people were going to swim it. It was just race to race.
‘Thanks so much to everyone back home, my mum, my family, my girlfriend, all the boys back in Maidenhead, thank you for staying up.’
Scott said: ‘Just a massive credit to Tom 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. It’s great being able to compete against him as well.
‘Obviously I’m delighted with that. For me massive credit to my coach Steve Tigg. I wouldn’t be standing here without him. The journey I’ve been on with him since I was about eight years old has been phenomenal. I’m just buzzing for Deano to be honest.’
The 21-year-old followed the lead of Adam Peaty to win Team GB’s fourth gold of the Games