Tokyo was no fluke, insists Dean

TOM DEAN is confident Britain’s swimmers will prove their Olympic success was no fluke when the World Aquatics Championships begin in Hungary today.

Team GB achieved their bestever haul in the pool at last summer’s Tokyo Games, when they won eight medals — with Dean claiming two golds. The British squad will be without their superstar Adam Peaty in Budapest, as the triple Olympic gold medallist and eight-time world champion continues his recovery from a broken foot. Duncan Scott — who won four Olympic medals last year — has also pulled out after he suffered problems recovering from Covid.

However, Dean said: ‘Although it will be tough not having them there, I feel the team is going to do a brilliant job. ‘Adam is such a dominant figure in the world of swimming, but at the same time, the team is just getting stronger and stronger. ‘Look at our medal count from Tokyo compared to Rio and London. We are coming home with great hauls.

‘It is going to be tough but it will give other people opportunities. Our team is so strong anyway that we are still going to put in a good performance.’

On a personal level, Dean is determined to prove he is no one-hit wonder as he looks to build on his stunning 200 metres freestyle victory in last year’s Olympics.

He said: ‘I’ll have a target on my back, but I will use that to spur me on. Any person who wins on a world stage wants to back it up.’