World champion Matt Richards and Olympic silver medalist Duncan Scott went one-two in the 200m freestyle at the British Olympic Trials, likely denying Tokyo gold medalist Tom Dean a chance to defend his title in Paris.
Richards, who won last year’s world title at age 20, prevailed Sunday in 1 minute, 44.69 seconds.
He was followed by Scott in 1:44.75. Dean took third 1:45.09.
Richards and Scott are in line to swim the individual 200m free in Paris, while Dean can join them in the 4x200m free relay, where the Brits are also defending gold medalists, plus won last year’s world title.
Dean can still swim an individual event in Paris, having made the team in the 200m individual medley behind Scott.
“Qualifying for Paris was exactly what I wanted to do,” Dean said on Channel 4 Sport. “Did that in my first race. Did that in the 200m IM. I knew it was going to take a momentous effort against these boys (in the 200m free), but we’re going back to Paris. We have an Olympic title to defend (in the 4x200m free).”
No man or woman has ever repeated as Olympic gold medalist in the 200m free.
The rest of Britain’s biggest stars all made the Olympic team at trials, including two-time gold medalist Adam Peaty in the 100m breaststroke.
