Steve Parry: I can't wait for the next Olympics after exceptional performances

Olympian and BBC 5 Live commentator Steve Parry gives his reaction to a history-making performance from Team GB swimmers at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Steve Parry reflected on a dream week for Team GB swimmers following a number of ‘exceptional performances’ in Japan – and said he couldn’t wait for the next Olympics to begin.

A total of eight medals – four golds, three silvers and one bronze – were won by Brits at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre

Duncan Scott became the first British athlete in any sport to win four medals at one Olympic Games – and that was just one of the historic moments made in the pool.

The medal tally is also the largest by a British team at an Olympic Games – beating the seven won at London 1908.

“I’m concerned I’m going to wake up and it’s going to day one of the Olympics and I’m going to have to start commentating,” joked Parry. “It’s been absolutely phenomenal.

“It’s well documented that it’s been the best performance ever at an Olympic Games which is great but there are so many other stories in there as well. 

“We have the best GB athlete medal haul ever from Duncan Scott which is wonderful and should be celebrated, Adam Peaty and his two golds and a silver and then, of course, Tom Dean, who in both events he swam in got two gold medals.

“So I think there are three superstars really for Great Britain there.

Confident about future

“It really was an exceptional performance. In the last 40 years, we have only got five gold medals in the pool and then we have got for golds in one meet.

“But it’s not just the volume – eight – which is better than the six we got in Rio, it’s the colour. Half of those medals are gold and that’s just wonderful.

“The fact they are relays as well means the success is being shared around and a lot of gold medals are returning on that British Swimming plane and that can only be good for the future.

“It’s not like these guys are on their way out either. Tom Dean is very young, Duncan Scott has got another cycle in him as has Adam – and there is new talent emerging as well, so it’s very exciting.

“Not to mention all those age group swimmers back home in all the swimming clubs around the county who now have new found belief and new heroes.

“I’m really confident about the future of British Swimming. Momentum has been building over the Olympic cycles and this is just the breakout performance.

“[Paris 2024] really will come around quickly. Having said that, it can’t come quick enough.

“I’m very excited and they’ve only just got out the pool! I can’t wait for the next one.”