Adam Peaty gave an emotional interview after finishing second and bagging a silver medal in the men's breaststroke final in Paris.
The 29-year-old was on the hunt win a third consecutive gold medal in the Olympic swimming event on Saturday evening but was pipped by Italian Nicolo Martinenghi, who won by just 0.02 seconds.
Peaty, who was leading the way, had to settle for joint-second alongside American Nic Fink after they finished at the exact same time.
He was looking to match Michael Phelps' achievement to claim victory in the same swimming event at three consecutive Olympics following his triumphs in Rio and Tokyo.
After coming agonisingly short, the world record holder was overcome with emotion afterwards following mental health issues and alcohol abuse causing a break from swimming in 2023.
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He also had to recover from a broken foot in the build-up and delivered a brilliant interview with the BBC after taking silver.
"In my heart I've already won," Peaty said.
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"It’s been a very long way back and I look at the score there and you would never think in your wildest dream that it would be 59s to win it there.
"I executed as well as I could. It doesn’t matter what it says on the scoreboard because in my heart I know that I’ve won there.
"I’m not crying because I’ve come second, I’m crying because of how hard its been to get here.
“I’m a very religious man and I asked god just to show my heart and this is my heart, I couldn’t have done more.”
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Peaty now has six Olympic gold medals to his name and could still add to his tally with appearances in the mixed and men's 4x100m relays if all goes to plan in the heats.
Girlfriend Holly, daughter of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, and three-year-old son George, will be cheering him on again.
Team GB have four medals at this year's games, made up of two silvers and two bronze.
Josh Lawless