7 Years of Constant Failures Leads to Perfect Comeback for Swimming Champion James Guy; Breaks Down After Podium Finish

The 2013 World Swimming Championship proved to be the occasion for James Guy. The coveted championship had some of the best names in the event. However, James Guy didn’t fall short of placing his position among the statutes of Conor Dwyer or Yannick Agnel. In later periods, Guy had to stay much under the shadow of the legend of Adam Peaty. The breaststroke baron enjoyed a healthy feast with the 200m freestyle guy in sharing the British glory.

But, since 2016, the hype around James Guy settled a bit. However, the relay remained as his sweet spot. But to score his forte, the 28-year-old British swimmer had to wait for the latest occasion. 

James Guy returned to 200m free glory in Otopeni

For James Guy, the European Short Course Championship in Bucharest this year is more than an event repeating after Glasgow. So, when he clinched the second position in the 200m free in the penultimate match, the MBE couldn’t hold his tears. All he fumbled in joy was fitted into the caption of the European Aquatics’ Instagram post, “Don’t give up!” 

James Guy had to wait for seven long years to touch the individual medal from the 200m free. Previously, it was the 2015 World Aquatics Championships that gave the Bury man the coveted gold medal in the 200m free. Later, in the 2016 Rio Olympics, he had to be satisfied with the fourth position in the title run of 200m free. So, after bagging the silver last night, Guy claimed with his husky voice, “There’re ups and downs and I’ve had more downs than the ups… But keep going and the time will come…”. However, that came as a beacon from a man who saw many low points among the highs. 

The untimely decision to retire 

In the Rio Olympics, he missed the podium by just three-tenths of a second. Even before that, James Guy stood at the sixth position in the 400m free event. But those double whammies couldn’t deter him from bringing out his best in the 800m free relay. That performance only came second to Michael Phelps and his pack of swimming demigods in that relay. Later, the confident MBE boasted, “I feel like if I was head-to-head with him, maybe I would have gotten him. Maybe in another lifetime.”

Read more:  “You Have Nothing to Prove”: Olympic Champion Adam Peaty’s Emotional Mental Health Confession Attracts Wide Support From Sports World

Since then, he claimed several championships as a part of the British swimming relay team. However, the constant failure in the individual events made him tell once to the Bury Times, “I’ve had a really good career so far and hopefully I’ve got a few years left.” But standing at the juncture, James Guy might want to focus more on his forte, 200m free event. 

Watch this story: As Simone Biles and Michael Phelps Work Towards Mental Health, Another Rising Gymnast Breaks Silence on The Self-care in Sports