Olympic swimmer says third games will be 'special'

A swimmer who is about to compete in his third Olympics said the opportunity to return to the games is "special".

James Guy MBE will be representing Team GB at the summer games in Paris next month.

The 28-year-old, who is originally from Bury, Manchester, returned to his alma mater, Millfield School in Somerset, to train for this year's games.

He said everything has gone "full circle".

When he was 13, Guy received a swimming scholarship to Millfield - which he described as "the best school in the world".

He trained there for three years under coach Jol Finck, before being led by Dave McNulty, the National Head Coach at the British Swimming Performance Centre at the University of Bath.

In September, he announced his departure, citing the need for "a change of stimulus".

Guy first represented the country at the Rio games in 2016, where he won two silver medals in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay and the men's 4x100m medley relay.

Five years later, at the Tokyo games in 2021, Guy won another silver for the men's 4x100m medley relay.

At the same games, he achieved two gold medals for his success in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay, and the mixed 4x100m medley relay.

He also set a world record of three minutes and 37.5 seconds, alongside his mixed relay team mates, Kathleen Dawson, Adam Peaty and Anna Hopkin.

Ahead of the Paris Olympics, which begin on July 26, Guy said he is "very relaxed" and "very calm", compared to his first games.

"I feel like as the years have gone by, comparing Rio and Tokyo, it’s completely different.

"In Rio, I was very, very nervous.

"Tokyo I was laid back and now I’m even more laid back.

"I feel like that’s a great way to be - when you get out there, you can just enjoy it, enjoy being in that environment and enjoy racing the best guys in the world."

He added that all he and his fellow athletes can do is ensure they are "the best prepared" for their races.

"At the end of the day, if you've done the work, the results will come," he said.

Over the years, Guy has accumulated 45 major medals at international championships.

He achieved 19 medals at a global level, and has gone on to become one of the most decorated swimmers in British history.

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