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Siobhan-Marie O'Connor and GB men's freestyle relay team win Olympic silver medals in swimming

Duncan Scott , Dan Wallace and Stephen Milne of Great Britain pose with thier silver medals
Image: Duncan Scott , Dan Wallace and Stephen Milne of Great Britain pose with thier silver medals

Siobhan-Marie O'Connor, in the women's 200m individual medley, and the men's 4x200m freestyle relay team won swimming silver medals for Great Britain on the fourth day of the Olympics.

The 20-year-old O'Connor was the fastest qualifier although 400m individual medley champion Katinka Hosszu of Hungary withdrew from the 200m butterfly earlier on Tuesday specifically to concentrate on the final.

Hosszu was under world record pace for much of the race and finished in two minutes 06.58 seconds, an Olympic record.

O'Connor smashed the British record to take silver in 2mins 06.88secs, while Maya Dirado of the United States was third in 2:08.79. Defending champion Ye Shiwen of China was eighth in 2:13.56.

Siobhan-Marie O'Connor proudly displays her silver medal from the women's 200m individual medley
Image: Siobhan-Marie O'Connor proudly displays her silver medal from the women's 200m individual medley

"I didn't think I would get that close to Katinka Hosszu so I'm over the moon. It showed what determination can do," said O'Connor.

"Coming into this you know how Katinka has dominated, but coming down the final 50 I thought I might get this one.

"I'm still delighted as I did a time I didn't think I was capable of. The more you race against the best stars in the world, the more confidence you get."

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Britain also took silver in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay behind the USA's Michael Phelps, Conor Dwyer, Townley Haas and Ryan Lochte.

It was Phelps' second gold of the evening, 21st Olympic gold and 25th medal in all.

Britain are world champions and qualified fastest for the final, before drafting in James Guy in place of Robbie Renwick.

James Guy's final leg was vital in Team GB's relay silver medal win
Image: James Guy's final leg was vital in Team GB's relay silver medal win

Guy combined with Stephen Milne, Dan Wallace and Duncan Scott to clock 7:03.13 as the USA won in 7:00.66. Japan were third in 7:03.50. Australia were fourth.

Milne was on the first leg and touched the wall in fifth place, but Scott, on the second leg, moved Britain up to fourth.

Wallace pushed Britain into third place with a storming third leg, leaving it up to Guy, the world 200m champion who had struggled to fourth in the individual event on Monday.

Phelps was so far ahead it was something of a procession, with Guy battling Japan, Australia and Russia for the podium places.

Meanwhile, Britain's Andrew Willis qualified second fastest for the men's 200m breaststroke final on Wednesday.

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