WHILE everything close friend and teammate Adam Peaty touches turns to gold in Rio, it’s been the opposite story for fellow world champion and Olympic debutant James Guy.
The swimmer finished in the unwanted fourth spot in this morning's 200m freestyle final as China’s Yang Sun took the title in 1min 44.65secs.
That was two places better than he managed in Saturday’s 400m freestyle final but it was still some way off his high expectations.
Peaty, meanwhile, is currently on cloud nine after becoming the first British male Olympic swimming champion in 28 years following gold in the 100m breaststroke on Sunday – in his second world record time of the meet.
But with the 100m butterfly and relay to come, Guy vowed not to let his head drop – even if he conceded all is not right with him.
“It’s devastating, fourth is the worst place you can get,” he said.
“For me, I think the first few days the swimming controlled me and I wasn’t controlling the swimming.
“I think that swim has showed that I’m not 100 per cent right and something’s not quite there.
“I’ll do everything I can to pull it round for the relay.
“I think it might be the taper. I’ve been swimming well for the past four years now and everyone – even Phelps and Lochte – have that one meet where they haven’t performed that well.
“I think this is that one for me so far. But it’s a one off and I’ll do everything I can to turn it around in the relay and the 100m fly.
“I’ve worked all my life for this but I’m on a journey, I’m still only 20 years old and hopefully I’ve still got Olympics left in me.”
Guy will be back in the pool this evening (6.29pm) for the heats of the 4x200m freestyle relay – an event in which he won gold at last year’s World Championships, while the 100m butterfly competition starts on Thursday.
And after previously spending some downtime relaxing with new champion Peaty watching the Inbetweeners together, Guy is determined to try and remain upbeat this week in Rio despite his own toils so far.
“I think Great Britain got a good shout in the relay, although we need everyone to be on their game as the Americans are obviously the top dogs,” he added.
“But we do have a world title to our name and we want that gold.”
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