James Guy: Coaches praise Tokyo Olympics gold medallist

Guy, who was a member of Trafford Metro Swimming Club between the ages of eight and 12, won gold in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay at the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday last week.

Swimming Team GB's second leg in the final after Tom Dean, it was Guy who put the team into the lead before Matthew Richards and Duncan Scott brought it home.

Then, over the weekend, Guy struck gold again when he won the mixed 4x100m medley relay alongside Adam Peaty, Anna Hopkin and Kathleen Dawson on Saturday.

He even topped it off with a silver medal in the men's 4x100m medley relay on Sunday.

His success came as no surprise to Dan Walsh, who spent his childhood trailing behind Guy and is now a coach to the club's children himself.

Speaking to The Messenger, he said: "I was always chasing his feet. He was the teammate I was aiming for."

"Everybody had to chase James," added Bob Bolton, chairman of Trafford Metro Swimming Club and a coach at the time Guy was a member.

"He was an exceptional swimmer from an early age.

"He was very driven, and he knew what he wanted.

"He was mature beyond his years, as a swimmer and a person."

Dan and Bob were two of around 20 of the club's members to set their alarms for early morning training on Wednesday, before taking time out of it to watch the men's 4x200m freestyle relay.

Bob described the atmosphere as one of 'nervous excitement'.

He said: "We were all there bright and early, ready for action.

James (second from right) taking a session with some swimmers.

"We were enjoying what we were watching, as well.

"There was a little bit of nervous excitement initially, but once James brought the lead back for us we could see it was done."

Guy's emotional response to the win came as no surprise to Dan either, given the journey he's been on throughout his career.

Wednesday's gold was Guy's first, after two silvers at Rio 2016.

Dan said: "You could see the emotion pouring out of him and how much of an impact this has had on his whole career.

"He has been working towards this since he came in at eight."

However, Bob knows Guy will not let success go to his head.

Even after moving to Somerset aged 12, he used to come back and train with the club when up visiting family in the area.

He still comes back occasionally to run sessions with the club.

Bob said: "There are no airs and graces about him.

"James is an exceptional swimmer, but he's just an ordinary lad.

"He's a credit to his family and a credit to us as a club as well."