Guy is still inspired by Thorpe show at Manchester Games
JAMES Guy was just seven years old when Ian Thorpe smashed a world record at the ‘bottom of his street’.
The double Olympic champion from Bury continues to be inspired by ‘Thorpedo’ breaking the 400m freestyle world record at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in the Aquatics Centre on Oxford Road in Manchester.
Now 26-year-old Guy has six Commonwealth medals of his own and will be competing at his third Games in Birmingham this summer, still fuelled by the pursuit of greatness in the pool.
“It’s a Commonwealth Games and it’s a home Games right in the heart of England,” said Guy, who was a former member of Trafford Metros.
“It may be my last Commonwealth Games, I don’t know, we will see how that goes. But it will be fantastic.
“Team England are going to get a good bunch of medals there and it will be a good home Games.
“I remember Thorpe’s 400m and I still watch it all the time. That was 10 minutes away from my house.
“It’s amazing that the best 400 we’ve ever seen was in Manchester.”
Guy was a key member of the gold medal-winning and world recordbreaking 4x100m mixed medley relay at the Tokyo Olympic Games last summer.
And he reached the top of the podium again in the 4x200m freestyle relay alongside fellow Team England star Tom Dean.
Guy is one of more than 1,100 elite athletes on UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Programme, allowing them to train full time, have access to the world’s best coaches and benefit from pioneering technology, science, and medical support.
However, the four gold medalwinning freestylers will be split up for Birmingham, with Duncan Scott swimming for Team Scotland and Matthew Richards for Team Wales.
But the loss of his team-mates will not fizzle out any winning determination for Guy.
He said: “It’s going to be great. Obviously it’s going to be completely different not having those guys on board.
“I’ve been on a team with Duncan since 2015 and he’s always been part of the 4x200m.
“But it’s a Commonwealth Games, it’s fun and it is what it is. Myself and Dean will try and hold the fortress and I’m sure we will do a good job.
“But the Australians are the guys we want to take down. They are the main rivals while we’re there and it will be a great race.
“I’ve known the Aussie boys for a long time and we’re all good friends.”
This summer, Team England will comprise more than 400 athletes. Having secured his place on the squad, Guy is looking to capitalise on the once-in a lifetime opportunity for medal success in his home country and to inspire the next generation.
He said: “Obviously being in the heart of England, right in the centre of Birmingham, it’s going to help massively. Hopefully when we are competing and on the podium swimming fast then people will see that as inspiration.
“Hopefully the next generation can use that inspiration and take our places after we retire.”
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