Maidenhead swimmer wins Gold at the Olympics
Tom Dean's family and friends gathered to watch his victory together in Berkshire
Last updated 27th Jul 2021
Maidenhead's Tom Dean admitted winning Olympic gold seemed a “million miles off” when he contracted coronavirus for a second time at the start of this year.
Dean produced the performance of his life in the final of the men’s 200 metres freestyle, clocking a national record time of one minute and 44.22 seconds to pip Tokyo 2020 flatmate Duncan Scott in a historic one-two for Team GB.
But there were moments where he wondered whether he would even make the plane to Japan. Having had a mild bout of coronavirus last September, Dean revealed there was scrutiny on him after he tested positive again in January.
“When I was sitting in my flat in isolation, Olympic gold seemed like a million miles off. But here we are.
“I had a few pretty frank conversations with staff at the Bath National Centre (where he trains), speaking about previous swimmers who had come back from injuries, but this was slightly different because it wasn’t so clear cut.
“I think I was one of the first athletes in any British Olympic sport to contract Covid twice in such a short space of time, so there were quite a few question marks around it.
“I’m thinking ‘how am I going to be able to recover from this in time to get a solid block of work under my belt before we start tapering for Olympic trials?’
“It’s amazing. It’s a dream come true to wear Olympic gold around my neck.”
A few weeks after taking up swimming at his local club in Maidenhead aged eight, Dean remembers being on holiday and watching in awe as Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all-time with 23 golds, won a record eight titles at Beijing 2008. Dean said: “Watching his final relay (at Rio 2016) was a real inspiration. When you get to the Games, you understand what a feat it was to secure as many Olympic medals as he did.”
His mum Jacquie Hughes watched at home in Maidenhead with his family, friends and members of his former swimming club:
"I just said to him 'Tom my heart is bursting it's not just because you've won a Gold medal' it's just the way he conduct himself picks himself up after disappointments. He's had two bouts of Covid its really knocked his plan off and he always cares about the other swimmers that's what makes me proud.
And she admits his life has changed forever now :
"Ever since he was a baby he was just so positive and he always thought life was for the taking and if he wanted to do something he could, and that positive attitude has taken him to teh top and its been a pleasure to be alongside him for that journey."
Both Dean and Scott are expected to compete in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay heats on Tuesday.
The victory marks Team GB’s fourth gold medal of this year’s Games, following a spate of victories on Monday.
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