Team GB's Proud eyes Paris with renewed vigour after Tokyo disappointment

By Paul Eddison, Sportsbeat

When Ben Proud thinks back to his Tokyo experience, the overwhelming question is how he even made it onto the blocks.

The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the preparations of all elite sportspeople, but swimming star Proud was among those who suffered the most.

Having been based in Turkey since 2017, Proud was forced to return to the UK and train in Bath away from his training base.

Displaced for those crucial final months, his performance inevitably suffered, with a fifth-place finish in the 50m freestyle leading him to question his future in the sport.

Now back in Turkey, Proud has rediscovered his love for swimming and will head to his third Olympics in Paris this summer, looking to add the final medal missing from his collection.

He said: “I was in good hands during the Covid situation, but there was so much that was taken away in terms of my resources, my training base, and the time we could spend training. I look back at that period and think how the hell did I get up and race? It was such a tough year.

“Coming back off the back of that I had to learn a whole load and develop myself again. I had to decide if I was going to continue swimming, I was brought to that point. Right now, I just feel much better, clear headed, I know what to expect and I know how to perform. It’s a matter of getting there and racing.”

Proud is one of over 1,000 elite athletes on UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Programme, allowing them to train full time, have access to the world’s best coaches and benefit from pioneering medical support – this is vital for his pathway to the Paris 2024 Games.

Since his Tokyo disappointment, Proud has re-established himself as one of the fastest men in water. He was crowned world champion in the 50m freestyle in 2022, a year in which he also scooped the European and Commonwealth titles.

He added a global bronze last year, as Australia’s Cameron McEvoy took gold. And while Proud admits that McEvoy and reigning Olympic champion Caeleb Dressel – back from a hiatus from the sport – are the two main contenders for gold, the 50m freestyle is an event where surprises are almost expected.

He said: “McEvoy, he’s always going to be the favourite because of what he did last year. Dressel is nowhere out of the picture, I’m still very confident that he’ll be there. You don’t know what form, but he is the best.

“Then there are a couple of new guys within striking distance, (London 2012 champion) Florent Manaudou is still around. There is a unique and vibrant collection of sprinters who are focused on this.

“It can go in many different directions, but I think we kind of understand that Dressel and McEvoy will be racing for their times and a whole bunch of us will be fighting for that small podium, there is not much space! What I love about the 50 is that it really doesn’t matter about times once you get to the final. As soon as you’re in there, it’s just about doing your race, holding things together and being composed.

“The past four Olympics, we have had four different champions. I’m sure Dressel will try to back it up but who knows what can happen.”

At 29, Proud is the elder statesman of the swimming squad, one of five swimmers competing in his third Games.

While sprinters often carry on longer in swimming than specialists in other events, Proud is aware that this may be the final opportunity to climb on an Olympic podium.

“I’m lucky that I’m in this position that if I were to retire without a medal, I’m really ok,” he reflected.

“I feel like I’ve had a great career. The pressure comes from wanting to please the team around me and everyone who has shown so much support throughout my career. It would be quite a fitting element to have to say thank you to them.

“I just want to go there, be happy on the block and swim what I can do. Even that would make my team content. If I can show what I’ve trained for and what I’m capable of.

“I feel a lot more in control this time around. I can’t think of a year where I’ve had so much precision with my training. That’s exciting because it’s kind of an unknown.

“I feel like I’m carrying the accolades of the last couple of years with the Championships, I’m carrying that experience through. I have a much better and clearer frame of my mind with how I do my race and the performances. With the way I’ve been training, it makes me feel good.”

Two months out from Tokyo, Proud was not feeling good. The contrast ahead of Paris could not be starker.

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