British swimmer Duncan Scott has his sights set on Olympic gold after securing victory in the 200m medley at the British Championships, setting up a promising campaign for the upcoming Tokyo Games.
The 26-year-old edged out rival Tom Dean with an impressive time of one minute 55.91 seconds, comfortably surpassing the qualification standard. Scott, who claimed silver in the same event at the 2021 Olympics, is eager to challenge Dean and French sensation Leon Marchand for the top spot in Paris.
Reflecting on his performance, Scott acknowledged the competitive nature of the event, emphasizing the talent pool he will be facing. With six Olympic medals to his name, including four from Tokyo, Scott is determined to clinch his first individual gold medal on the grandest stage of them all.
Dean, the reigning Olympic champion in the 200m freestyle, also met the qualification criteria, securing a silver medal in the race. His strong performance keeps alive his pursuit of a record five medals in Paris.
Marchand, who has shattered various medley records, poses a formidable challenge alongside China’s Wang Shun, the reigning Olympic gold medalist. Despite the stiff competition, Scott remains focused on his own preparation, aiming to block out external distractions and deliver his best performance.
In other events, emerging talent Honey Osrin secured her maiden Olympic berth with a stellar performance in the women’s 200m backstroke, while Katie Shanahan added to her medal tally with a silver in the 400m medley.
Paralympic stars Stephen Clegg and Brock Whiston continued their dominance, clinching gold medals in the para 100m butterfly and para 400m freestyle, respectively. William Ellard also impressed, sealing his place at the Paralympics with a victory in the para 200m medley.
Meanwhile, Joe Litchfield caused a major upset in the men’s 100m butterfly, earning a spot in the Olympic relay squad despite missing the qualification time for the individual event. His remarkable performance highlights Team GB’s depth in talent and sets the stage for an exciting campaign in Paris.