Worth staying up for! Tom Dean wins 200m freestyle gold medal in Tokyo to spark WILD 3am celebrations for friends and family back in Maidenhead… after a first British one-two in the pool since 1908!
Tom Dean sent friends and family back in the UK into a frenzy after claiming an Olympic gold medal in the 200m men’s freestyle.
The 21-year-old became the first British man to win an Olympic freestyle gold in 113 years, with Duncan Scott winning the silver medal in a Team GB one-two.
In the immediate aftermath of his victory in the 200m, Dean said: ‘Thanks so much to everyone back home, my mum, my family, my girlfriend, all the boys back in Maidenhead, thank you for staying up.’
Tom Dean sent friends and family back home into a frenzy after claiming Olympic gold medal
The 21-year-old became the first British man to win an Olympic freestyle gold in 113 years
A video emerged on social media of many of those close to Dean cheering him on in the dark
Now a video on social media has emerged of many of those close to Dean cheering him on during the race and then going wild once his first and Team GB’s fourth gold medal of the Games had been confirmed.
Plenty had gathered under the night sky at 3am to watch Dean and they were not left disappointed with screams and cries of joy aplenty once he had touched the wall in in a British record of 1min 44.2sec.
Scott meanwhile finished in second place, meaning Team GB now have 10 medals at this summer’s Olympics in Tokyo.
His time, 0 0.04 seconds behind Dean, was also his personal best and he finished 0.44sec clear of Brazilian Fernando Scheffer, who won bronze.
The GB duo however became the first male British swimmers since Henry Taylor and Thomas Sidney Battersby in the 1500m freestyle in London 113 years ago to finish on the same Olympic podium.
Plenty had gathered under the night sky at 3am to watch Dean and they were not left disappointed
Duncan Scott (left) meanwhile won silver as they completed the first British male swimming one-two on the same podium for the first time since 1908
Dean, as well as thanking those back home, added : ‘I knew it was going to be a dog fight. I didn’t know how people were going to swim it. It was just race to race.’
Scott meanwhile said: ‘Just a massive credit to Tom Dean, that was unbelievable. Olympic champion – he’s come along so far in the last 18 months, it’s a pleasure to watch.
‘It’s great to be able to say he’s a good mate out of the pool. It’s great being able to compete against him as well.
‘Obviously I’m delighted with that. For me massive credit to my coach Steve Tigg. I wouldn’t be standing here without him. The journey I’ve been on with him since I was about eight years old has been phenomenal. I’m just buzzing for Deano to be honest.’
Dean meanwhile finished 0.44sec clear of Brazilian Fernando Scheffer (R), who won bronze
Dean also confirmed that he had contracted coronavirus twice in the past 12 months, getting his first bout in September before another over the New Year.
But he received further praise from former Team GB Olympian Siobhan Marie O’Connor, who states Dean was ‘the most talented swimmer’ she had ever seen.
‘I’m speechless and struggling to find the words,’ she posted on Twitter.
‘Tom Dean is the most talented swimmer I have EVER seen. I always knew he would win Olympic Gold one day but after getting COVID twice this year, I thought it would be 2024. He is INCREDIBLE.’
‘So proud DEANO- OLYMPIC CHAMP.’