Olympics 2024: Relatives revel in Tom Dean's third gold medal

"Mum Celebrates Tom Dean's Third Olympic Gold"

At the Olympics, Duncan Scott, James Guy, Matthew Richards, and Tom Dean (in order from left to right) successfully defended their title as the first swimming relay team.

The mother of Olympic gold medallist Tom Dean expressed that witnessing Team GB's 4x200m freestyle team successfully defend their title in person was an exceptional experience.

Jacquie Hughes, along with some of Dean's loved ones, gathered in her backyard in Maidenhead, Berkshire to watch his triumphant win at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 due to Covid limitations.

However, they were able to support and celebrate with Dean and his teammates at La Defense Arena in Paris on Tuesday.

Dean described the support as something that everyone hopes for and said it made his past Olympic wins in Japan even more memorable.

Family and friends, including Dean's sibling Alfie (in 'D'), sister Connie (in 'A'), and mother Jacquie (in 'O'), celebrated his achievement.

Dean, Matt Richards, James Guy, and Duncan Scott were ahead by a small margin going into the last part of the race. Scott then finished strong to secure the win with a relatively comfortable lead of 1.35 seconds.

Dean, a resident and athlete in Bath, Somerset, expressed to the BBC: "It's hard to explain in words. This is the ultimate goal for all of us. I have been dreaming of this moment for three years since we first won. We are the only team with the same group of four swimmers to successfully defend an Olympic title - it's truly amazing."

What made it even more meaningful was having my loved ones, friends, and the audience there. That's the reason we do it, for the people watching from home and all the supporters in the stands. They are the ones we do it for.

This meant another first place trophy for his local team, the Maidenhead Marlins.

"It's not too shabby for a small club. I am grateful to everyone," he remarked.

His mother mentioned that she had never seen him so happy and excited as he was in Paris.

Tom Dean and his dad, Jonathan, were able to rejoice together following the team's victory on Wednesday.

"Being present here, surrounded by the ambiance and the audience, is truly extraordinary. It got me thinking about how impressive it was for the swimmers to perform so well in a quiet arena in Tokyo. But nothing can compare to the energy of being right by the pool with the cheers of the crowd," she expressed.

Dean's sister Connie got some shirts ready with the word "Deano" painted on them. She mentioned that they were still fresh with the smell of paint because she had made them on Monday.

She explained that his fans were really excited and congratulated him with hugs and enthusiasm, expressing love and pride for him. However, he is still focused on upcoming races and maintaining his competitive mindset.

"It's a true tribute to the dedication and commitment and love. You don't witness all the effort that happens behind the scenes. This is just the public recognition. Witnessing him achieve that after years of hard work, it's beyond words," she remarked.

It's a demanding activity: you rise early in the morning, adhere to a strict bedtime schedule, and maintain a healthy diet.

Paul Lloyd, the head coach of Maidenhead Marlins, expressed his immense joy and excitement over Dean's win.

He shared with BBC Radio Berkshire that he received messages from Dean both before and after his race, demonstrating that Dean is not only an exceptional athlete but also an exceptional individual.