Great Britain’s men won the 4x200m freestyle relay gold in Japan to add the world title to their Olympic crown.
GB’s quartet of Duncan Scott, Matt Richards, James Guy and Tom Dean edged out the United States to secure Britain’s second gold of the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka.
Richards, who won the individual 200m title on Tuesday, gave Britain the lead during the second leg.
Guy then handed over to Olympic champion Dean, who held on to win.
Dean, 23, produced the fastest split of the group – one minute and 43.84 seconds – to hold off a spirited fightback from the American Kieran Smith.
Britain won by 00.94 seconds in a time of six minutes 59.08, which was just outside the world record and their own European best time.
Britain only managed sixth at last year’s World Championships but were able to bring in 2015 world champion Guy and Olympic silver medallist Scott to restore the winning line-up from the Tokyo Olympics.
“I knew that when the four boys came together something special would happen like it did last time we were in Japan,” said Dean after collecting his third medal of the championships.
“Winning was really, really nice,” said Guy, who now has 11 world championship medals. “This is our first time together since Tokyo and it shows that we’re in a great place, which hopefully we can build on for Paris.”
Meanwhile, defending 50m freestyle champion Ben Proud finished second in his semi-final to qualify third fastest for Saturday’s final.
American Jack Alexy won in 21.60secs, with 28-year-old Proud just behind in 21.61.
Australia’s Cameron McEvoy clocked an impressive 21.25 to win the second semi-final.
“There’s a clear favourite right now in Cam McEvoy, so coming up tomorrow night I’ll be next to him and it’ll be good to give him a good race,” said Proud.
British champion Katie Shanahan, who was disqualified from the 200m medley earlier in the week, qualified for the women’s 200m backstroke final on Saturday by coming second in her semi-final.
“I’m really happy with that, to make my first World Championship final,” said Shanahan, 19. “Hopefully tomorrow night I can go a bit faster.”
But Jacob Peters and Guy both failed to make the 100m butterfly final.
Qin breaks world record and wins third gold
China’s Qin Haiyang broke Olympic champion Zac Stubblety-Cook’s 200m breaststroke world record, clocking a time of two minutes and 05.48 seconds.
Qin, 19, finished 0.92 seconds head of Australian Stubblety-Cook to claim his third gold of the championships following his victories in the 50m breaststroke and 100m breaststroke.
Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan stormed to victory in the women’s 100m freestyle, securing gold in 52.16 seconds to defend her title and become the first woman to win the 100m and 200m titles at the same worlds.
South Africa’s Olympic champion Tatjana Schoenmaker, 26, cruised to gold in the women’s 200m breaststroke after a silver over 100m earlier this week.
Hungary’s Hubert Kos then held off 2022 champion Ryan Murphy of the United States to win the men’s 200m backstroke crown.
Great Britain’s swimming medals so far
Great Britain won five medals at the 2022 World Championships in Budapest but have now won six medals in Fukuoaka with two days to go.
They are fifth in the medal table, one place behind 2024 Olympic hosts France.
Gold
Matt Richards – 200m freestyle
Duncan Scott, Matt Richards, James Guy, Tom Dean – 4x200m freestyle relay
Silver
Tom Dean – 200m freestyle
Duncan Scott – 200m medley
Bronze
Tom Dean – 200m medley
Lauren Cox – 50m backstroke
