Rio 2016: James Guy tastes glory at last after a week of disappointment

The 20-year-old Bury swimmer put recent poor performances behind him

Guy lets out a triumphant roar after sealing silver (Getty)

A buzzing James Guy spoke of his joy at putting his poor individual performances behind him and taking on Michael Phelps in the last leg to seal silver for the Great Britain 4x200m freestyle relay team in Rio on Tuesday night.

Guy had high hopes of claiming a medal in the 200m freestyle final but finished an agonising and “devastating” fourth in the Olympic Aquatic Arena on Monday night. The 20-year-old also led in the final of the 400m freestyle but was overhauled in the second half of the race and finished sixth.

On Tuesday he took the relay team GB home for silver – behind a Phelps inspired USA - in a brilliant race. Stephen Milne led GB out followed by Duncan Scott and at halfway hopes were slim but Dan Wallace took them past Australia and Guy zoomed passed Japan’s Takeshi Matsuda to win silver by 0.37 seconds.

“I said to Phelps ‘it was an honour to race you tonight’ and he said ‘thanks bro. I appreciate that’ and he gave me a hug. It was nice to out-split the greatest of all time! I know that I am the form racer and if we are going head to head there is no way I am going to let him pass me. When I saw Phelps was going fourth I thought that was ideal, to be racing the greatest of all time. It was an honour to do that.”

What had he learnt from watching Phelps at such close quarters? “It shows that if you put your mind to anything you can do it. You could see tonight, when he won the 200m fly, you could see that he came back to win that event and he has done it.”

So, how hard had he found the two individual defeats? “Honestly, I cried,” Guy admitted. “I was devastated after the fourth place. I saw my mum and dad and I just collapsed. I was really upset. But I moved on and said ‘now I am going to do the country proud in the relay’. I knew I was getting faster and stronger and I did!

“The first few days I wasn't thinking what I was doing and I was rushing things. This time I relaxed and it paid off. I have become good at turning things around and putting my mind to things. It is nice to finally get my hands on a medal.

Guy and Phelps acknowledge each other after battling it out on the last length (Getty)

“I was pumped. I wanted to do a bit of shadow boxing. When I dived in I knew we had won a medal. There was no way the Russians or anyone were going to catch me. To turn around and see a silver medal is so special because this team is so young.”

Guy, who will also race for GB in the 4x100m medley, is taking the positives from the relay to set him up for the future. At just 20 that future could be very bright. “It is all about a journey for me,” he said. “Last year was the best year I have ever had. Imagine what I would be like if I was on form. The first few days I was completely off form but it shows I can bring it around and I can swim OK to get us a medal. Imagine what I would be like if I was swimming amazingly.

“The first few days I was thinking about medals and you can't do that here. You have to race the race and that's what I wasn't doing.”