Jump directly to the content
nearly Guy

Rio Olympics 2016: James Guy narrowly misses out on a medal in the Men’s 200m freestyle

The Middlebrough born swimmer was unable to emulate team-mate Adam Peaty, who won 100m breaststroke gold on Sunday

James Guy was unable to match Adam Peaty's achievement of Olympic Gold

JAMES GUY finished an agonising fourth in the 200 metres freestyle - with drug cheat Sun Yang taking gold.

The Brit, 20, is the world champion in this event and had high hopes of a medal coming into these Games.

 

3

James Guy was unable to match Adam Peaty's achievement of Olympic Gold

 Olympic gold medallist Adam Peaty watches on as James Guy fails to win a medal
3
Olympic gold medallist Adam Peaty watches on as James Guy fails to win a medalCredit: PA:Press Association

But despite being in third at the halfway stage, Guy slipped to fourth behind American Conor Dwyer.

Popular South African Chad le Clos took silver, while shamed Chinese swimmer Sun claimed his third Olympic gold.

Sun, who served a three-month doping ban in 2014, has come under fire here in Rio, particularly from Mack Horton.

The Aussie beat him in the 400m free after earlier stating how he “didn’t have time or respect for drug cheats".

And Guy sided with his pal Horton after frustratingly missing out on a medal to a proven doper.

 

He said: “I can see where Mack is coming from and I’m great friends with Mack.

“Do I deserve a medal? Yes and no because he's done his time. It’s over and in the past now.

“He’s here, you’ve got to deal with it, move on, race him and that’s what I’ve tried to do and unluckily I’ve come fourth.”

Horton’s sledge towards Sun saw him receive death threats from Chinese swimming fans.

And Guy said: “I asked him, ‘Mate, what have you been doing?’ because it was all over Instagram.

“But fair play to him. He’s speaking from the heart.

“I’m the opposite really - I keep things to myself.

“Honestly, I think that he’s done his time and FINA have said he’s here and I’m going to race him.

“I can’t say, ‘You’re not swimming'.

"He’s here. I’ve got to deal with it and move on.”

Guy, who finished sixth in the 400m on Saturday night, is sharing an apartment here with gold medal hero Adam Peaty.

 

 James Guy is the reigning 200 metres freestyle world champ
3
James Guy is the reigning 200 metres freestyle world champCredit: Getty Images

And on his best mate, he said: “I watched Adam’s final in the crowd with my Mum and Dad.

“He’s Olympic champion, world-record holder and hopefully I can aspire to be like that one day.”

Guy next goes with Peaty in the 4x100m individual medley relay, in which Britain have a great medal chance.

And he added: “We’ve got a shout. We need to have our best performances tomorrow.

“We need everyone to be on their game because the Americans are the top dogs.

“But we’re the defending world champions, we hold the trophy and it’s going to be a dogfight I think.”

After Sun’s freestyle win, tonight’s swimming programme was in danger of being dominated by drug cheats, as Yulia Efimova led her 100m breaststroke final.

But thankfully the Russian, who has twice tested positive and was booed on to the start line, was pipped by American Lilly King.