Former Cardinal Newman High School pupil James Guy looks back on a successful Olympic Games after he won two relay silver medals

The 20-year-old, a former pupil at Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School and Cardinal Newman High School, was second along with teammates Duncan Scott, Adam Peaty and Chris Walker-Hebborn in the 4x100m medley relay final.

They trailed a USA team that included the great Michael Phelps, who picked up a 23rd gold medal of his Olympic career.

Guy’s latest success came after he and Scott had joined with Stephen Milne and Dan Wallace to win silver in the 4x200m freestyle, another race in which the Americans were fastest.

The former Stockton Heath resident swam the butterfly leg in Sunday’s final after 100m breaststroke gold medal-winner Peaty had completed a blistering second stint.

Afterwards Guy talked o his pride at facing Phelps in what could be his last race.

“It was special to go head-to-head with him, although I unsure he’ll retire – I think he wants to get 25 golds and we’ll see him in Tokyo.

“I’m a freestyle swimmer, and fly isn’t really something I work on so that’s a pretty decent time from me.

“Adam Peaty is our Michael Phelps – he’s just a freak.

“His leg was almost faster than my butterfly one!

“He’s a great friend of mine, and what he’s doing in the pool is remarkable.”

Guy, who was named Warrington under 11s Sports Personality of the Year in 2007, was fourth over 200m in the individual freestyle in Rio.

He also classified sixth for the same stroke over 400m.

And he is confident the British team can build on their most successful Olympics in the pool since 1984.

They can also set their sights on reeling getting closer to a dominant American team too.

“The youngest guys in this team are 21, 20 and 19 – we’ve got so much further to go,” he said.

“We are young, and growing lads, and we’ve got so much more to work on.

“You compare the size of the USA to us and look at Texas – that state alone is three times bigger than our country!

“The variety they have is special, but we’re up-and-coming.

“We came second to them, and there is so much more to work on. Tokyo will be the one for us.

“Last year we were fourth at the World Championships and now we’ve got a silver, so we are on the right track.

“There are very big things ahead from this team over the next few years. This is just the start.”