JAMES Guy produced a stunning anchor leg to grab Olympic 4x400m freestyle silver before warning Team USA that they are coming for them in four years time.
Guy, just 20, should be the lynchpin of success in this event for years to come - while his team-mates Stephen Milne, Duncan Scott and Dan Wallace are just aged 22, 19 and 23 respectively.
The great Michael Phelps – who continued his rise to sporting immortality with his 20th and 21st Olympic golds and Ryan Lochte are nearing the end of their storied careers but this team are only just getting started.
And Guy – who missed out on an individual medal in the 400m and 200m events despite making both finals – insists the future is looking very bright indeed.
“We knew before the race that if we kept our head then a medal was there,” said Guy.
“I think we can beat Team USA – we are a young and up and coming team anything can happen in four years but I reckon we will have a good shot.
“In Tokyo we will be fully grown men – hunting for that gold and at our peaks.”
This relay silver owed much to Guy who took over on the anchor leg with the team in third before overhauling Japan with a supreme 1:44.85 split.
And the 20-year-old admitted afterwards that the disappointment of his first two days in the pool had inspired him to produce his best on the big occasion.
“Obviously the first two days were not great but I have been getting faster and faster,” he added. “We haven’t got the taper 100 per cent right but it shows what I can do when I’m not perfect.
"I managed to turn it around tonight and grab a medal for my country."
Sharing a podium with the most successful Olympian of all-time will certainly be a story to tell the grandchildren one day.
And Guy has taken real inspiration from his brief interaction with Phelps on a night that saw the American make history once again.
“Tonight I raced the greatest of all time – that was pretty special having watched him for so many year to race against him was amazing and to give him a hug afterwards was one of the best moments of my life,” added Guy.
“I said to him: ‘it’s an honour to race you, you have inspired me for so many years, he said ‘Thank you very much’ and gave me a hug.
“It was so surreal to be on the podium. It’s been a dream of mine since I was a young boy to get an Olympic medal and I have got that now. In Tokyo I want that gold.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here