Duncan Scott overtakes Chris Hoy in Britain’s all-time medal list as Ben Proud also takes silver

Britain’s Ben Proud might not be a household name in swimming circles but that quickly fades into insignificance given that he is the new prince of the ‘splash and dash’. He was very nearly the king after finishing five hundredths of a second adrift of Australia’s Cameron McEvoy in the men’s 50-metre freestyle in a ferocious race which saw Britain denied by fingernails once again.

While Proud agonisingly lost out by the width of a hair, it was a different story for his British team-mate Duncan Scott, who picked up his sixth silver Olympic medal behind France superstar Leon Marchand, with the latter miraculously claiming his fourth gold of his home Games – and fourth Olympic record – in the men’s 200 metre individual medley.

But there were silver linings to finishing behind the frankly, unbeatable star. The Glasgow swimmer has overtaken Chris Hoy in Britain’s all-time medal list with eight (two gold and six silver) and is now tied with Sir Bradley Wiggins as Team GB’s second most decorated Olympian only behind Sir Jason Kenny.

For Proud, he was neck and neck over one length of the pool but it was he who was pushed down into second at the touch of the wall to take a dramatic silver in a blistering 21.25 seconds. The thumbs up he gave to the British crowd suggested he was as pleased as his name after embracing his Australian rival at the finish.

It was third time lucky for Proud, who turbocharged to his first Olympic medal after near misses at the Rio and Tokyo Olympics. As a three-time world champion in this event, he already had a vast CV but an Olympic medal had been the one missing from his collection.

Proud’s backstory is a colourful and unconventional one. Born in London, he moved to Malaysia when he was months old where he later discovered he had a talent for swimming. He represented his Kuala Lumpur school at swim meets, before moving back to Britain where he pursued the sport seriously at Plymouth College on a swimming scholarship.

He quickly ascended the junior ranks and the medals started flowing – he enjoyed a breakthrough 2014 Commonwealth Games when he won gold in the 50 metre freestyle and 50 metre butterfly. He would later relocate his training to Turkey at the Energy Standard International Swim Club, one of the founding European teams in the International Swimming League where he is coached by the former British world champion, James Gibson.

Until Friday night, the 29-year-old’s career on the Olympic stage had been defined by near misses and setbacks. A fourth place at the 2016 Rio Games, before finishing fifth at the Tokyo Olympics, had left him questioning his future in the sport, but he put both disappointments behind him in his ultimate quest to be the fastest man over the length of a pool and has been peaking perfectly for these Paris Games. Having amassed two world titles and four European crowns in this last Olympiad, he came to the French capital hunting the one piece of silverware he most craved: an Olympic medal.

Having qualified joint fastest for the final alongside McEvoy, he was drawn in the coveted lane four with his closest rival outside him, it would be the Australian who prevailed.

For Scott, he was up against a man who has obliterated every high-quality field at these Olympics and been dubbed the ‘French Michael Phelps’, Scott was always going to play second fiddle to the country’s superhero from Toulouse – and he was beaten by a full stroke, coming home in 1:55.31.

The night, however, belonged to Marchand, who completed his highly feted challenge of a ‘quadruple’. Before tonight he had already triumphed in the 400-metre individual medley – where he broke Phelps’ record – before becoming the first man in history to achieve the 200-metre backstroke-backstroke double.

France’s posterboy held up four fingers at the conclusion of the race – in a nod to the number of gold medals he has collected like Olympic pins at these Games – and barely looked out of breath. Up in the stands, French president Emmanuel Macron was jumping up and down. France has never witnessed a superstar like it.

Meanwhile, Katie Shanahan and Honey Osrin finished fifth and seventh respectively in the 200 metre women’s backstroke final.

Scott and Proud win silver medals for Team GB: As it happened

09:00 PM BST

Scott up on the podium with Marchand and Wang

08:59 PM BST

Marchand’s fourth gold

08:48 PM BST

Women’s 200m Individual Medley semi-finals

Here are the eight who have made the final:

Alex Walsh (USA)
Summer McIntosh (Canada)
Kate Douglass (USA)
Abbie Wood (GB)
Sydney Pickrem (Canada)
Yu Yiting (China)
Kaylee McKeown (Australia)
Ella Ramsay (Australia)

08:45 PM BST

Women’s 200m Individual Medley semi-finals

In the first semi-final, Canada’s Sydney Pickrem takes it in a time of 2:09.65, with China’s Yu Yiting in second and Ella Ramssay in third.

In the second semi-final, USA’s Alex Walsh wins in a time of 2:07.45. Summer McIntosh (Canada) is second with Kate Douglass (USA) third. GB’s Abbie Wood is fourth, which will easily see her into the final.

08:34 PM BST

Women’s 200m Individual Medley semi-finals

Here comes the final event of the night in the pool. Great Britain’s Abbie Wood goes in the second semi-final, but she will be up against some formidable swimmers with the likes of Summer McIntosh (Canada), the American duo of Alex Walsh and Kate Douglass and Australian Kaylee McKeown, who has won her second gold at these Games earlier this evening.

08:30 PM BST

Tom Dean, who finished fifth in the 200m Individual Medley final, speaking to the BBC

08:28 PM BST

200m Individual Medley Silver medallist Duncan Scott speaking to the BBC

08:26 PM BST

50m Freestyle Silver medallist Ben Proud speaking to the BBC

08:20 PM BST

Men’s 100m Butterfly semi-finals

The eight men through to the final are Kristof Milak (Hungary), Maxime Grousset (France), Josh Liendo (Canada), Nyls Korstanje (Netherlands), Noe Ponti (Switzerland), Ilya Kharun (Canada), Matthew Temple (Australia) and Naoki Mizunuma (Japan).

08:17 PM BST

Men’s 100m Butterfly semi-finals

In the first semi-final, Maxime Grousset of France takes it with a time of 50.41. Canada’s Josh Liendo, who took part in the 50m Freestyle final only half an hour ago, came home second just 0.01 behind Grousset with Netherlands’ Nyls Korstanje third. USA’s Caeleb Dressel, who also competed in that 50m Freestyle final, finished fifth.

In semi-final two, Hungary’s Kristof Milak takes it, with Switzerland’s Noe Ponti second and Ilya Kharun of Canada third.

08:06 PM BST

Proud gets his silver

08:04 PM BST

Macron liked that one

That fourth gold for Léon Marchand certainly pleased his country’s president.

08:02 PM BST

Second silver of the night in the pool for Team GB

08:02 PM BST

Silver for Proud

07:56 PM BST

Men’s 200m Individual Medley final results

1. Léon Marchand (France) 1:54.06 OR

2. Duncan Scott (GB) +1.25

3. Shun Wang (China) +1.94

4. Carson Foster (USA) +2.04

5. Tom Dean (GB) +2.40

6. Alberto Razzetti (Italy) +2.76

7. Daiya Seto (Japan) +3.15

8. Finlay Knox (Canada) +3.20

07:52 PM BST

Marchand takes fourth gold, Scott silver

Sensational. He comes so close to breaking the world record but takes his fourth gold of these Games. He has to settle for just the Olympic record! The stadium erupts. Duncan Scott wins a great silver, his eighth Olympic medal, with China’s Shun Wang taking the bronze. Tom Dean finished in fifth.

07:51 PM BST

50m to go

Marchand leads with just one length to go. Scott has moved up into second with Wang in third.

07:50 PM BST

Halfway mark

With 100m to go after the butterfly and backstroke legs, Marchand leads. His underwater work is sensational. He is only just ahead of Wang. Foster is third, Scott in fourth.

07:49 PM BST

Men’s 200m Individual Medley final

The noise is deafening as Marchand comes out to the blocks. Will he win his fourth gold at these Games or can Scott, Dean, Foster or Wang deny him?

Here we go…

07:47 PM BST

Men’s 200m Individual Medley final

Here comes arguably the biggest final of the night as Frenchman Léon Marchand goes for his fourth gold of these Olympics:

Lane 1- Alberto Razzetti (Italy)

Lane 2- Daiya Seto (Japan)

Lane 3- Duncan Scott (GB)

Lane 4- Léon Marchand (France)

Lane 5- Carson Foster (USA)

Lane 6- Shun Wang (China)

Lane 7- Tom Dean (GB)

Lane 8- Finlay Knox (Canada)

07:46 PM BST

Women’s 200m Backstroke final results

1. Kaylee McKeown (Australia) 2:03.73 OR

2. Regan Smith (USA) +0.53

3. Kylie Masse (Canada) +1.84

4. Phoebe Bacon (USA) +1.88

5. Katie Shanahan (GB) +3.80

6. Xuwei Peng (China) +4.23

7. Honey Osrin (GB) +4.43

8. Anastasiya Shkurdai (AIN) +6.50

07:44 PM BST

Kaylee McKeown takes gold

The Australian wins in an Olympic record. She won the double of 100m and 200m backstroke in Tokyo and she has repeated that here. She now holds the world and Olympic records. Regan Smith of the USA takes silver, Canada’s Kylie Masse takes bronze.

07:43 PM BST

50m to go

Smith still leads but McKeown is coming back at her…

07:42 PM BST

Halfway mark

With 100m to go Smith leads ahead of Masse and McKeown. Shanahan and Osrin sixth and seventh respectively.

07:41 PM BST

Women’s 200m Backstroke final

Off we go.

07:39 PM BST

Women’s 200m Backstroke final

The finals are coming thick and fast now and Great Britain have two swimmers in this one:

Lane 1- Katie Shanahan (GB)

Lane 2- Kylie Masse (Canada)

Lane 3- Honey Osrin (GB)

Lane 4- Phoebe Bacon (USA)

Lane 5- Kaylee McKeown (Australia)

Lane 6- Xuwei Peng (China)

Lane 7- Regan Smith (USA)

Lane 8- Anastasiya Shkurdai (AIN)

McKeown is the current world record holder, which she set last year in Sydney.

07:39 PM BST

Men’s 50m Freestyle final results

1. Cameron McEvoy (Australia) 21.25

2. Ben Proud (GB) +0.05

3. Florent Manaudou (France) +0.31

4. Josh Liendo (Canada) +0.33

5. Kristian Gkolomeev (Greece) +0.34

6. Caeleb Dressel (USA) +0.36

7. Leonardo Deplano (Italy) +0.37

8. Jordan Crooks (Cayman Islands) +0.39

07:35 PM BST

McEvoy wins gold, Proud silver

That was so, so tight and it is Australian Cameron McEvoy who takes the gold. GB’s Ben Proud comes home for silver, which he looks pretty happy about. Proud finished just 0.05 seconds off gold. Florent Manaudou of France takes the bronze, much to the home crowd’s delight. Thrilling race.

07:34 PM BST

Men’s 50m Freestyle final

Frenchman Manaudou is playing to his home crowd, which creates even more noise. We are about to crown the fastest swimmer in the world. The swimmers are on the blocks. A full-on sprint for the finish is incoming…

07:30 PM BST

Men’s 50m Freestyle final

Here are the runners and riders for the first final of the night:

Lane 1- Florent Manaudou (France)

Lane 2- Caeleb Dressel (USA)

Lane 3- Leonardo Deplano (Italy)

Lane 4- Ben Proud (GB)

Lane 5- Cameron McEvoy (Australia)

Lane 6- Jordan Crooks (Cayman Islands)

Lane 7- Kristian Gkolomeev (Greece)

Lane 8- Josh Liendo (Canada)

The swimmers are on their way to the blocks.

07:26 PM BST

Murray in attendance

Sir Andy Murray was asked last night after his final game of his professional career what he would be doing today. Well, we have an answer as he is at La Défense Arena supporting GB’s swimmers. Will he be a good-luck charm for Team GB?

07:21 PM BST

Dressel in the mix for a medal?

American Caeleb Dressel won gold in the Men’s 50m Freestyle final in Tokyo and he will start in lane two tonight. He is the current Olympic record holder from that gold in Tokyo so he will be one of Ben Proud’s main competitors tonight for the top step on the podium.

07:09 PM BST

GB through to mixed medley relay final

Earlier today Great Britain booked their place in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final as the British quartet qualified for Saturday’s final fifth-fastest. James Wilby, who swam the breaststroke leg, was joined by Kathleen Dawson, Joe Litchfield and Anna Hopkin as Great Britain finished third in their heat, behind the United States and China. The USA were the fastest qualifiers, 0.44 seconds quicker than Australia, who won the first heat.

Adam Peaty did not feature as he recovers from Covid, but could come back in for tomorrow’s night final. One of GB’s 4x200m freestyle gold medallists, including Duncan Scott and Matt Richards, could also come into the quartet for the final.

GB won this event back in Tokyo. The final takes place tomorrow night at 20.58 (BST).

06:57 PM BST

Going for four

Léon Marchand is aiming for his fourth gold medal in his home Games tonight. Duncan Scott and Tom Dean are two of the main men hoping to deny him. 22-year-old Marchand is coached by Michael Phelps’ former coach Bob Bowman and despite an incredible Olympics so far, he is still a long way off matching Phelps’ eight golds from Beijing in 2008.

06:48 PM BST

Over at the Stade de France

GB’s Keely Hodgkinson is going to be in action very soon in the heats for the women’s 800m. You can follow that as well as all the other action from the Stade de France with our dedicated live blog here.

06:47 PM BST

China hit back over doping suspicions

“Chinese swimmer Zhang Yufei hit back at critics as doping suspicions continued to swirl around her country’s swimming team, claiming: “We are innocent.”

“Zhang claimed bronze in the women’s 200 metre butterfly – the event where she won gold at the Tokyo Games – but received a mixed reaction when she stepped onto the podium inside on Thursday night La Defense Arena.”

Fiona Tomas has the full story from Paris.

06:37 PM BST

Schedule for tonight

19:30: Men’s 50m freestyle final (GB’s Ben Proud joint-fastest into the final)

19:35: Women’s 200m backstroke final (GB have Katie Shanahan and Honey Osrin looking for medals)

19:40: Men’s 200m individual medley final (GB’s Duncan Scott and Tom Dean and Frenchman Leon Marchand)

20:05: Men’s 100m butterfly semi-finals

20:31: Women’s 200m individual medley semi-finals (including GB’s Abbie Wood)

06:05 PM BST

Preview

Good evening and welcome to coverage from La Défense Arena on day seven ahead of an exciting night in the swimming pool. It has been another great day for Great Britain with golds in rowing, trampolining and equestrian and GB’s swimmers will be hoping to cap off a great day for the team.

One of the great battles of the night will be in the Men’s 200m Individual Medley final as home favourite Léon Marchand is aiming to win his fourth medal of the Games. Marchand has already won gold in the 200m Breaststroke, 200m Butterfly and 400m Individual Medley. GB’s Duncan Scott and Tom Dean, who have already won gold in the Men’s 2 x 400m Freestyle Relay, will be looking to deny him at 19.45 (BST). In the World Championships last year, Marchand claimed first ahead of Scott and Dean. Could we see Ryan Lochte’s world record broken this evening, which stands at 1:54.00. In the World Championships last year Marchand won with a time of 1:54.82 and with the form he is in this week, could he break it?

Ben Proud will be hoping to add an Olympic gold in Paris to his collection in the Men’s 50m Freestyle final at 19.30 (BST). He has won gold at the World Championships and Commonwealth Games but can he add an Olympic gold tonight? Proud goes in as joint-fastest into the final and his main competitors for the title include Australian Cameron McEvoy, Italian Leonardo Deplano and American Caeleb Dressel, who won gold in this event in Tokyo as Proud finished joint-fifth.

We also have the Women’s 200m Backstroke final where Katie Shanahan and Honey Osrin will be flying the flag for Team GB at 19.37 (BST). There is also the Men’s 100m Butterfly semi-finals at 20.05 and the Women’s 200m Individual Medley semi-finals, where Abbie Wood goes for Great Britain at 20.31 (BST).

Make sure you stay with us for all the action from the pool on what is sure to be another enthralling evening.

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