JAMES GUY is a man with exacting standards – so after three golds and a bronze medal at these Europeans the former Swim Trafford star still did not hold back in labelling his season 'average'.

Guy wrapped up his week in the Tollcross International Swimming Centre last Thursday night with another relay gold in the 100m medley as well as his first individual medal of the meet with bronze in the 100m butterfly.

The solo effort came first, and Guy was powerless to prevent Italy’s Piero Codia take gold in a Championship record time of 50.64secs while silver went to France’s Mehdy Metella.

But Guy held on to take bronze – and after fourth in the 200m freestyle like in Rio two years ago – he was relieved to get on the podium. 

“It was nice to get an individual medal, finally. A bronze medal was pretty solid.

"The time was not great but there was a gold in the relay and a 50.9s after the 200m fly is pretty good,” said Guy – who also claimed five Commonwealth medals on the Gold Coast earlier this year.

 “I was actually annoyed, I wanted to win. I went out too quick and was in a rush.

"I came back well so three golds and a bronze overall so I will take it this week.

“The whole year has been average for me. It is what it is, swimmers go through that and it happens.

"I was a lot faster in Budapest last year but everyone goes through a tough time and you have just got to keep going.

“I will be back next year. If there was a season to swim badly, this is the one.

"We have two years until Tokyo and obviously that is the big target.

“And then we have the worlds next year in Korea, where we get to race Sun Yang and the Americans again – that is where I will be back to my best.”

Not long after his individual effort, Guy was back in the pool alongside Adam Peaty, Duncan Scott and Nick Pyle for a shot at relay glory.

And they held off Russia to claim gold and lift their confidence ahead of next year’s worlds in South Korea and the Olympics in Tokyo in 2020.  

“Nick [Pyle] set it all up for us and he is our new backstroke star. Myself, Duncan and Mr Peaty have done the relay now since Rio so we are only going to get stronger," he added. 

“That was faster than the worlds last year and there are exciting times ahead for us as a team. It is full steam ahead until Tokyo in two years.

 “I have got a nice break now so I am off to California for 10 days and I will take my girlfriend out there.

"I will play golf, go fishing and be a normal guy for a few weeks.”

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