Tom Dean Recalls Historic Relay Tussle With Kyle Chalmers Amid Countdown To Commonwealth Games
Tom Dean made history at Birmingham 2022 when he held off the challenge of Kyle Chalmers on the anchor leg of the men’s medley relay to become the first home nations athlete to win seven medals in a single Commonwealth Games.
Team England led throughout thanks to Brodie Williams, James Wilby and James Guy who handed over to Dean for the anchor leg with a 0.56 lead. Chalmers had already won three titles including the 100 free ahead of Dean and Duncan Scott and by the turn, the Australian had taken a 0.29 chunk out of the deficit.
Tom Dean: Photo Courtesy: Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
He attacked down the final 50 and moved on to the Englishman’s shoulder but Dean summoned every last drop in his reserves to get his hand to the wall first, 0.08 ahead despite Chalmers’ 46.86 split.
Dean counts his anchor leg battle and ultimate triumph among his top three career moments.
Given Dean’s been crowned Olympic champion on three occasions – including leading home Scott for a British 200 free 1-2 at Tokyo 2020 – and has two world titles to his name, it underlines the magnitude of emerging triumphant from that tussle in Birmingham four years ago.
Speaking to Swimming World, Dean said: “We watched that video at the Team England holding camp. The seventh medal, the gold, anchoring the relay and holding off Kyle is undoubtedly one of the top three highlights of my career. Such a special moment. For me to get the record – most medals from a home nation athlete in a single Games – was so special.
“My family were there at an English Commonwealth Games, it doesn’t get much better than that. That’s something I replay in my mind and to sit there and watch it with Team England at the holding camp four years later was quite cool as well.”
Recognising Sustained Success Of Peaty & Co
Dean will head to Glasgow as part of a Team England squad that also features Adam Peaty and Guy, who made their maiden journeys to the international podium at the 2014 Games at the same Tollcross International Swimming Centre that hosts the pool programme from 24-29 July.
Scott also won his first international medal 12 years ago in Glasgow with Team Scotland and since then the trio have amassed eight Olympic golds, 19 world titles and nine Commonwealth crowns between them.
Dean points to their presence at the pinnacle of the sport for 12 years and the knowledge they can impart.
“As an athlete I respect their longevity more than anything but for the wider team it’ s their depth of experience that you’re able to draw on. I was asked to speak at the Team England camp of my experiences from Birmingham. There were individuals there who could speak about Birmingham and the Gold Coast and Glasgow which was really special.
“I always look up to high-level athletes who have an incredible career of longevity across all sports but swimming especially. Take Duncan for example, take Jimmy, take these guys who raced 12 years ago in the same city and what a great story it is.”
The Prospect Of Fireworks In The 200 Free
A shoulder injury prevented Dean from competing at the British Championships in April which was followed by a spell of intensive rehab before building up strength and returning to full training.
He’s set to compete in at least the 200IM and the 200 free, events where he claimed silver behind Scott four years ago. The 200 free promises fireworks with Dean and Scott joined by Guy, Matt Richards of Wales and Jack McMillan, who’ll compete for Northern Ireland while Sam Short became the first man since Grant Hackett in 2005 to sweep the freestyle events from 200 to 1500 at the Australian trials.
Tom Dean: Photo Courtesy: Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
Richards’ 1:44.77 at British Championships is the fastest time in the Commonwealth this year followed by Short’s 1:45.16 and Guy’s 1:45.38.
The 4×200 free relay also promises to be a thrilling spectacle with the likes of Team Wales’ Kieran Bird – who swam the Paris Olympics prelims as Great Britain defended its title – Daniel Wiffen, Max Litchfield and Tyler Melbourne-Smith appearing for their respective home nations.
Australia have won the title on all but one occasion since its introduction onto the programme at Edinburgh 1970, England having stopped the winning streak at Melbourne 2006.
Dean said: “The 200 free has been a golden event, a blue riband event, in Great Britian for a number of years now. We’ve got an Olympic champion, two world champions, Olympic silver medallist, world silver medallist. We’ve had some incredibly close races over the years and also there’s the history of the 4×2.
“So, for us to come together but in a different sense with the home nations is going to make for a very exciting event. Sam Short firing on all cylinders, obviously you can argue maybe more with slightly longer distances but to win the trials in the 200 free and put down a 1:45 low is never anything to be taken lightly. It’s going to be a fascinating race and one I’m going to really look forward to getting stuck into and it’s going to be pretty electric.”