SILVER LINING
Tokyo 2020: Team GB take silver in swimming 4x100m medley relay in superb display narrowly behind USA
ADAM Peaty and Duncan Scott struck medals again but GB missed out on their fifth Olympic swimming title of Tokyo 2020.
Peaty’s hopes of a third gold of the Games were dashed despite swimming the fastest breaststroke leg in history after taking over in seventh from backstroke bronze medal-winner Luke Greenbank in the 4x100m medley relay.
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But a truly stunning swim by US star Caeleb Dressel overhauled James Guy’s butterfly, leaving Scott a huge task against Zach Apple.
Scott gave everything as he powered down the freestyle split but could not quite get past the American who touched home in a world record 3:26.78, with Team GB second in 3:27.51.
The disappointment was written all over the faces of the British quartet but should not hide an outstanding nine days in the pool.
Greenbank was only sixth at the 50m mark and touched seventh, 1.3secs behind Ryan Murphy of the USA.
But Peaty turned on the afterburners to blitz his leg and come through to lead with a sensational 56.53secs, the fastest split in history.
Guy, up against Dressel, was second with 100m to go after the American recorded an inconceivable 49.03 but Scott’s last leg efforts were not quite enough.
INCREDIBLE GAMES IN THE POOL
It was a slightly subdued end to an incredible meeting for Team GB, who won just three medals - a silver and two bronzes - at London 2012.
Peaty just failed to become the first British swimmer - and only the third athlete in any discipline after cyclists Sir Chris Hoy and Jason Kenny - to win three golds at the same Games.
But Scott, with one gold and three silvers, became the first to win four medals at a single Olympics.
And the eight medals surpassed the seven won in the inaugural London Games of 1908 to set a new all-time mark.
BETTING SPECIAL -
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Earlier, Ben Proud and Dan Jervis, Britain’s last individual finalists, each took fifth in the shortest and longest events on the programme.
Proud finished behind US superstar Dressel - winning his fourth gold of Tokyo - in the 50m freestyle.
And a stunning sprint finish by Robert Finke of the US added the 1500m to his 800m freestyle title. Jervis was never in serious contention.
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Tokyo 2020 - Team GB snatch incredible GOLD in swimming mixed 4x100m medley relay with world record time
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