Gutted Team GB silver medallist Matt Richards claims ‘I thought I finished first’ as Adam Peaty curse strikes again

TEAM GB’s Matt Richards was pipped for a swimming gold by just 0.02 seconds after a thrilling 200m freestyle final.

Romania’s David Popovici nicked gold after the tightest of final 50m bursts with Britain’s Duncan Scott fourth, behind USA star Luke Hobson.

Amazingly, Richards’ agony exactly replicated the margin by which legendary team-mate Adam Peaty had also fallen short of a top gong in Paris.

Richards revealed afterwards he thought he had WON – but also insisted he was satisfied with his first Olympic individual gong.

He had won gold in the 4x200m relay at Tokyo 2020.