Selling £15 million properties is the closest James Guy has got to recreating the buzz of winning Olympic gold. One of Britain’s most successful swimmers of all time, the 27-year-old from Bury expects to hang up his goggles in the next couple of years.
Guy is planning for a future on dry land as a real estate wheeler dealer, undergoing work experience with a leading firm near his base at the British Swimming Performance Centre in Bath and in London.
“Swimming’s my life but it doesn’t last forever,” said the double Olympic champion. “I won’t be swimming when I’m 50, there’s more to life than that.
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“I’ve never had a job before, I’ve never worked a day in my life before. A lot of athletes get lost on their journey and don’t have anything lined up but now is the time to get it done.”
Guy was a belligerent figure on the pool deck as he led Team GB to two relay golds and a silver in Tokyo and his natural confidence serves him well in his new choice of career.
If a client is wavering on a final signature, his 43 international medals might just get a mention. “It’s gonna help, isn’t it?” he said. “It might have been dropped in once or twice.
“I’m determined to get the job done for people and you get respect when you’ve spent your life following a black line and getting up at 5am every day.
“It’s a competitive industry, a competitive market. I love meeting people and talking to people. I’m not shy and I’ve always been able to make good connections."
The challenge for Guy and his relay ‘brotherhood’ is to match or exceed their Tokyo feats at Paris 2024, with eight medals and four golds Britain’s best-ever performance in swimming at an Olympics.
“We didn’t know how good we could be in Tokyo,” Guy said. “We thought we might get a few medals here and there. To do that in Paris again would be great. I think we definitely can, and if we get it right we can probably do one or two better.
“At the end of the day, it’s only swimming. We’re not saving lives here. It’s a difficult task, but you can only play your part.”
Tracking for a medal in the 100m butterfly, Guy scratched the event, putting his individual ambitions to one side to lift Team GB to record relay feats at the postponed Olympics.
"I'm proud of what I did and doing my bit for Team GB at the Olympics," said Guy. "It took me a lot of demons to get over but I believe everything happens for a reason.
"I always wanted to win an Olympic gold medal, be a world champion and to race the likes of Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, I've done those now. Not many people can say that.
"I'm happy doing what I'm doing now and the 100 fly is my main focus. I've had a really good career so far and hopefully I've got a few years left."
The road to Paris 2024 continues for Guy at the British Swimming Championships, the flagship domestic swimming event that will be held at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge on 4-9 April.
That meet will play a key role in the selection process for July's World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.
“2022 was an off year but the hype of the Olympics is there now,” said Guy. “This is a prep year, we’re trying different things. I want to get back my best and do well in Sheffield.”
Tickets are still available for the British Swimming Championships in Sheffield (4th-9th April). Head over to The Ticket Factory to secure yours - or watch all the action from every session on the British Swimming YouTube channel.
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