Paris Olympics: James Guy To Return For Another Crack At 400 Free In 2025

James Guy: Picture Courtesy: Aquatics GB

Paris Olympics: James Guy To Return For Another Crack At 400 Free In 2025

James Guy revealed he is set to make a return to the 400 free, nine years to the day since he won world silver over eight lengths at Kazan 2015.

Far from being on the brink of hanging up his goggles, the 28-year-old will follow coach Ryan Livingstone when he moves from Millfield to take up the role of Aquatics GB Manchester Performance Centre Lead Coach.

Guy has been galvanised since switching from Bath Performance Centre to Millfield in south-west England after a seven-year stint working under Jol Finck and latterly Dave McNulty, as he collected Olympic, world, European and Commonwealth titles.

Seeking “a change of stimulus,” the partnership and change of environment have paid dividends for Guy who set a new 200 free PB on the lead-off for the Great Britain 4×2 squad in Paris.

His time of 1:45.04 took 0.10secs from his previous best of 1:45.14 that secured him the individual title at the 2015 World Championships.

Tom Dean, Matthew Richards, Duncan Scott and James Guy: Photo Courtesy: Deepbluemedia

Guy would have placed fifth in the individual final in the French capital with that time and he returned for the final to lead off the GB squad in 1:45.09, the second-fastest of his career, joining Tom Dean, Matt Richards and Duncan Scott as they secured an historic title, three years after victory in Tokyo.

Guy still holds the British record of 3:43.75, set en-route to silver nine years ago in Kazan where he finished behind Sun Yang and one place ahead of Ryan Cochrane of Canada.

A year later at Rio 2016, the five-time world champion finished sixth as Mack Horton took the title, Guy replicating that finish at the 2017 worlds in Budapest before he won bronze at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on Gold Coast.

Guy turns 29 in November, but he is far from contemplating hanging up his goggles and instead is looking to the trials for the 2025 worlds in Singapore, telling Swimming World:

“I’ve not thought that at all. I’ll definitely keep going after this, I’m not retiring.

“People say I’m retiring, it’s peeing me off a little bit, but I’m definitely keeping going 100 per cent.

“A personal best time in the 200 freestyle and I’m going to give the 400 a crack next year at the trials. I’m going to give it a go.

“My training in the freestyle is the best it’s ever been and it’s been clearly proven here, going 1:45.0 in the morning in the 200 free so I’m going for it again.”

Guy will return to the north-west, his birthplace and where his family are based, as he continues his working relationship with Livingstone, who also coaches individual 200 free silver medallist Richards.

Ryan Livingstone: Photo Courtesy: Aquatics GB

“I’ll follow Ryan until the end of my career now,” he said. “Going from a standing 1:46 low with Dave to a personal best time with Ryan, clearly something’s working in the pool, doing the right work for me. I love Dave but it just wasn’t practical at the end.”

Guy finished 23rd in the 100 fly prelims on Friday morning in 52.23, his only individual swim of Paris 2024.

He didn’t mince his words, saying: “Rubbish. Honesty’s the best policy. For some reason the fly didn’t really kick in this year. I haven’t been under 52 this year for some reason, I don’t really know why.”

Guy was part of the mixed medley relay that won gold in Tokyo as well as the men’s quartet that claimed silver although it’s unclear whether he will get a relay swim in Paris.

Joe Litchfield later split 51.37 on the fly leg as Great Britain qualified for the final of the mixed event in which they are reigning champions while the men’s event starts on Saturday and is the penultimate event of the eight-day programme on Sunday.

Speaking ahead of Litchfield’s swim, Guy said: “The fly’s just not been there so I don’t really know what they’re going to do now with relays. if he’s the fastest man, that’s what they’ll probably do, that’ll be the best thing for the team.”

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