Adam Peaty leaves lasting impression on Olympic great Michael Phelps

The country’s first medal dates back to 1896, when James Connolly won triple jump gold.

“Hopefully that’s a message to the rest of the world in four years time, where James and Duncan will be a lot more mature, a lot more muscle, and hopefully if Chris decides to go on he’ll be a lot faster”, said Peaty, 21.

Michael Phelps brought the curtain down on his Olympic career with a dynamite relay swim which resulted in his 23rd gold medal.

Even that statistic seemed to pale against the irrepressible Phelps – and likewise Ryan Murphy’s lead-off backstroke leg, which set a new 100m world record of 51.85. We’re looking at a very good relay coming together.

Peaty, who will be lining up for another gold medal on Friday, when he competes in the 4x100m medley relay, becomes the first swimmer to win gold at this programme since 1988 when David Moorhouse took the honours in Seoul.

We also know how important it is to Adam to have his mum and dad there, knowing the two people who’ve been on the journey from the beginning with him will be there to watch him race.

“He was swearing and said “56.5 is mad”.

World record holder Peaty did his split in a phenomenal 56.59 seconds, faster than the world record of 57.13 he swam in the individual event last Sunday. But I don’t think he’ll retire.

“Tokyo’s going to be the one, I think”.

Britain had won five medals entering the final evening of competition at the Olympics Aquatics Centre – 100m breaststroke gold for Peaty, plus two silvers for Jazz Carlin, silver in the 4x200m freestyle relay and 200m individual medley silver for Siobhan O’Connor.

The 26-year-old Southport swimmer was fifth in the one-length dash at London 2012. I wanted to come here and give it absolutely everything and have no regrets.

“I could see Katie was a bit in front and having a great swim so I just tried to hang on”.