World Championships: Ten Years On, James Guy Recalls Kazan History That Ushered In A Band Of Brothers
In little more than a week, it’ll be exactly 10 years since James Guy claimed an historic 200 free title at the 2015 World Championships in Kazan.
The then 19-year-old was third at the final turn before he picked off leader Sun Yang and Ryan Lochte down the last 50 to claim gold in British record of 1:45.14. Sun was 0.06 adrift in 1:45.20 with world record-holder Paul Biedermann coming from fifth to third in 1:45.38.
James Guy: Photo Courtesy: R-Sport / MIA Rossiya Segodnya
With victory, Guy became the first British man to win a freestyle title at the long-course worlds. It remained that way until Budapest 2022 when Ben Proud won the 50 free with Matt Richards taking the 200 title a year later in Fukuoka.
Guy’s exploits followed silver behind Sun in the 400, 17 years after fellow Briton Paul Palmer took bronze at Perth 1998.
Speaking to Swimming World ahead of the 2025 World Championships, Guy recalled:
“There was Biedermann, Sun, there’s Chad (le Clos), there’s Lochte. I really looked up to Paul Biedermann, I watched him in 2009 and tried to copy his stroke and I watched Sun in 2012 when I was 15, 16. I idolised these guys growing up so to be in the world final next to Ryan Lochte was like ‘what on earth is going on?’
“Lochte’s someone I’ve watched since I was 11. There was the start of the Phelps era – 2004, 2005 – and then Lochte got involved. And then in 2011 Lochte blew that worlds apart. Me and Duncan (Duncan Scott) always talk about how good he was in 2011. And then to race him in 2013 (in the 4×200 freestyle relay) and then race him head-to-head in 15 was like this is one of the greats – and then to beat him as well.
“I remember walking out for the 200 freestyle final and I had no pressure on me, I wasn’t even nervous for it, I was like I’ve got nothing to lose here. My main goal for that was to medal in the 400 and try and make the final in the 2 because my 200 was never really the main event. So, when I qualified second fastest, I was like ‘oh, I might get a medal tomorrow night’ and I was like ‘imagine if I won it.’ And I remember when we’d done the race turning around and seeing 1 – James Guy and it was just like oh my God – what has just happened? Beating Sun Yang as well – obviously he should never have been there because of his doping controversy and he beat me in the 4.
“I look back at it and I don’t think it’ll ever sink in but it’s something that I’m very proud that I’ve done but it just shows that if you can put the work in and you believe in yourself, it can happen.”
Adam Peaty, The 4×2 & Brothers In Arms
Watching in the ready room was Adam Peaty who’d won his first world title in the 100m breaststroke on day two. He went out little more than 15 minutes later for the 50 breast semifinals and broke the world record that Cameron van der Burgh set in prelims that day.
Robbie Renwick, James Guy & Dan Wallace: Photo Courtesy: Maria Dobysheva
It marked the start of a band of brothers whose bonds appear set to last a lifetime with Guy and Peaty great friends today.
“We weren’t that close at that time,” said Guy. “We didn’t really know each other properly. But when I won he was like ‘oh my God, I’ve got to go out and win the semifinal now because Jimmy’s won the 200 free.’ And that’s when this British Swimming powerhouse just kind of came through. And here we are 10 years later.”
Guy wasn’t done yet though. The men’s 4x200m relay – with a young Duncan Scott on the anchor leg – qualified third through prelims.
Guy was drafted in to replace Scott for the final, joining Dan Wallace, Robbie Renwick and Calum Jarvis. Third at the final takeover, Guy split 1:44.74 to steer the quartet past the USA and Russia into gold.
It was the first time a British men’s squad had won a relay title at long-course worlds.
“I remember the final came around and Jol (coach Jol Finck) never mentioned anything about winning. He was like if you guys can do what you can do, something special can happen and just left it at that. So we kind of knew in the back of our minds that if we get it right, we know we can get on the podium and be the right colour of medal.
“After that race, I was like I’m done now, I’m tired. I remember walking back around after Sharron (Sharron Davies) interviewed us and she couldn’t believe it because Britain were always sixth, seventh in the relays. I remember the whole team was clapping me which was really nice because we brought it back for GB. Bill (former coach Bill Furniss) shook my hand, Chris (performance director Chris Spice) gave me a hug and then it was like you’re doing the 100 fly in the medley relay – I was like what? I haven’t done any butterfly so I don’t know what you’re expecting. Then the free and fly campaign started and that was it.”
The men’s medley was led off by Chris Walker-Hebborn in 53.23 followed by Peaty (57.74) and Guy (51.62) with Ben Proud posting 48.08 on anchor as they were pipped to bronze by France. Of note in that race was Cam McEvoy’s 46.60 anchor leg as Australia won silver.
Experience & Maturity Heading Into Singapore
Since Kazan, Guy has won three golds among six Olympic medals and a further three more world titles among eight more honours.
He’ll contest the 200 free in Singapore alongside Richards, having secured the slot after the dead heat with Scott at the trials in April.
Duncan Scott & James Guy: Photo Courtesy: Morgan Harlow, Aquatics GB
The 29-year-old will also reunite with Tom Dean, Richards and Scott as the two-time Olympic champions seek to reclaim the title they won in 2023 in Fukuoka.
Guy welcomes the chance to do the individual 200 free after having dropped events at previous championships in order to preserve energy for relays.
“I think getting over that 100 fly in Tokyo was a real hard one. In the back of my mind subconsciously that hurt me quite a bit because I knew I could have got an individual medal there.
“At the end of the day still looking at it, we got the gold in the mixed medley, broke the world record.”
He adds: “I’m approaching this like any other meet now. I’ve really learned to be much happier outside the pool, I don’t take life too seriously and enjoy the last couple of years of my career. There’ no guy in that field who is more experienced doing the 200 free than me. I was 17 at the 2013 worlds so David (Olympic champion David Popovici) would’ve been eight.
“I’m enjoying it. Just go and do my process: it’s the same old stuff. It’s just nice to have some confidence again in what I’m doing and actually seeing some results. I’m back on my best form – I’ve been 1:45.0 at trials, at the Olympics. But it’s just going out there, having some fun and I’m just glad I’ve got the chance to race the 200 free again.”
