Ben Proud made a slice of history in swimming’s splash-and-dash with a superb victory at the European Championships in Rome.
The 27-year-old was heartbroken after finishing fifth in Tokyo but has since completed a towering turnaround and a unique set of major honours.
He just became the first swimmer ever to win world, European and Commonwealth gold in the same 12-month period, catapulted into the pantheon of the sport’s greats.
He said: “After winning the world title I turned round to my coach and said, ‘I’ve been given an opportunity here, why not take it?’
“I have so much respect for the guys who do these back-to-back swims, the Adam Peatys, Caeleb Dressels, Sarah Sjöströms.
“To retain your titles time and time again, it's bloody hard.”
Proud was quickest to react on the blocks and opened up an early lead, holding off a charge from home hope Leonardo Deplano to take 50m freestyle gold in a time of 21.58 seconds.
He said: “I came here to win and that was a really close race. Time-wise, not very good, but I got my hand on the wall first and that’s all that matters.”
The Plymouth star has won all major gold medals available to him since Tokyo, including both short and long course world titles, giving him a new perspective on Olympic disappointment.
“I’m doing it for the love of the sport,” he said. “I had to come back to life after the Olympics and I can’t hold myself accountable to trying to win these medals.
“I do it because I love it and I don’t want to hold myself to too high a standard. I threw myself under the bus last year trying to get something that wasn’t mine.”
Imogen Clark defied a week of self-isolation to take a brilliant bronze in the 50m breaststroke.
The 2018 silver medallist kept her place on the podium with a 30.31s swim.
She said: “It’s amazing, I never dreamt of doing this and it’s an incredible way to end the season.
“I went into panic mode after testing positive but the heat swim gave me the confidence to ride it out. I was in the race and I managed to get that medal.”
On the diving board, Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix's golden summer continued as she claimed the 10m platform title.
The 17-year-old, who also struck gold at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, scored 76.80 on her final attempt to overturn a two-and-a-half point deficit to Ukraine's Sofiia Lyskun.
"It has been crazy, I just wanted to have fun here and I had no expectations. But I felt nervous because I wanted to do well, and I did.
"I don't know what to say. I am so happy my family have been here this week, some I haven't seen since Covid. I got to see them before the competition and so I am very thankful for the support."
Elsewhere, Grace Reid and James Heatly also backed up Commonwealth success with a European medal as they won silver in the 3m synchro.
In Munich, Matt Hudson-Smith completed the set of three major medals this summer, as he successfully defended his 400m crown.
The 27-year-old, who won World Championship bronze and Commonwealth Games silver, timed his race to perfection by running a patient first 250m before hitting the accelerator to cross the line in 44.53s, with teammate Alex Haydock-Wilson in third.
"It feels good. It was a controlled run, I knew the mistakes I made at the Commonwealths and I said to the BBC I would never make that mistake again," he said, referencing how he was punished for running too hard too fast.
"It was a lesson learned and I came away with the gold today. Everyone has contributed in a different way. I talk a lot about my family and friends but I wouldn't be here without them.
"I want to say a big thanks to them and I am quite stressful, I won't lie. But I try to repay them out here with good performances."
Sportsbeat 2022