TEAM GB swimmer Max Litchfield was labelled the “unluckiest swimmer ever” after missing out on a medal to finish fourth at a THIRD consecutive Olympic Games.
The Sheffield-born athlete, 29, had already come perilously close to a podium place in the 400 metre individual medley in both Rio and Tokyo.
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And it was more heartbreak for Litchfield in Paris on Sunday night despite him breaking his own British record with a time of 4:08:85.
He finished just 0.19 seconds behind American Carson Foster who claimed the bronze medal.
Frenchman Leon Marchand won gold by more than five seconds, while Japan’s Tomoyuki Matsushita took silver.
Litchfield’s medal agony was etched all over his face as he discussed his feelings after the race.
The BBC interviewer called him the “unluckiest swimmer ever in 400 IM”, before he gave an honest account of his emotions.
The Team GB star said: “I don’t really know what to say. It’s my best time, it’s still a British record.
“It’s hard, it’s so bitter sweet because of that but I’ve given it my everything physically, mentally, emotionally, it’s just not meant to be again.
“But, you know, I’ve come fourth at three Olympics on the trot, there’s not many people that can say they’ve done that. It’s just tough that it’s so close again.
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“But yeah, I gave it my everything so I can’t complain. Well I can, I’m upset, but I’ve done everything I possibly could so it is just sport.”
Litchfield claimed a world championship silver medal in the 400 IM earlier this year, while he also has silver and bronze medals at the European Championships and a gold at the European Short Course Championships from five years ago.
He is not competing in any of the relays at the Paris Games, so does not have any more opportunities to claim that elusive medal.
Litchfield’s fourth place came just hours before two-time Olympic champion Adam Peaty won silver in the 100m breaststroke as Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi pipped him to gold by 0.02 seconds.
What’s happening today at The Games?
WHAT TO WATCH TODAY…
THE PARIS 2024 Olympics is now well underway with medals being ticked off and huge events still to come.
SunSport brings you all the action taking place in the French capital on a what is expected to be a huge third day.
Tom Daley looks to retain his 10m synchro diving gold, this time with Noah Williams instead of Matty Lee (10am).
Tatt-mad Matt Richards and Tokyo silver star Duncan Scott are battling for 200m freestyle gold in the swimming pool (7.40pm).
Tom Pidcock goes in the mountain biking cross-country after winning gold three years ago (1.10pm) and it is the finals of equestrian eventing (team 11.15am, individual 2pm).
The men’s team gymnastics final – featuring Max Whitlock – starts at 4.30pm.
In hockey, Team GB women face Australia in their second pool match of this year, looking to make it bronze, gold, bronze, gold in the last four Olympics (4pm).
And there are Brits galore in the sailing down in Marseille (from 11am).
Swimmers Lilly King, Tatjana Smith, Ruta Meilutyte and Tang Qianting make up a star-studded quartet going for women’s 100m breaststroke gold (8.30pm).
It’s Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal in a blockbuster second-round singles clash at Roland Garros, the tennis superstars’ 60th and probably final meeting (12.30pm).
Ukraine’s six-time fencing world champion Olha Kharlan was sent a personal letter by IOC chief Thomas Bach guaranteeing her place at a fifth Olympics.
She was disqualified from the fencing world champs last year for refusing to shake hands with her Russian opponent. The women’s sabre final is at 8.45pm.
Click here for all the events taking place at Paris 2024 today.
Follow all the action as it unfolds with our Paris 2024 Olympics LIVE blog.