JAMES Guy was a fingertip away from a medal on his Olympic debut as he was edged into fourth in the 200m freestyle final.

The 20-year-old Radcliffe swimmer, who was sixth in the 400m freestyle, had only squeezed into the final as eighth-fastest qualifier, looking a shadow of his usual self, short of pace and confidence.

But the youngster, who won World Championship gold in this event 12 months ago, returned closer to his best in the final, clocking 1:45.49 from an outside lane to touch just 0.26 seconds behind USA’s Conor Dwyer in third.

“It’s devastating really,” said Guy. “Fourth is the worst place you can get.

“I’ve worked all my life for this but I’m on a journey and hopefully I’ve got two more Olympics left in me. I’m still only 20 years old and I’m posting those times.

“I would have won a medal for my time at the British trials (1:45.19) but I’m still learning. I’m enjoying racing the best guys in the world and I’m happy to be here.”

South African Chad le Clos went out hard, leading through the first three laps before being overtaken by China’s Sun Yang in the final 50.

Sun, who served a three-month ban from swimming for a doping violation in 2014, won in 1:44.65 followed by le Clos (1:45.20) and Dwyer (1:45.23).

“He served his time,” Guy said. “He’s here so I feel as if we’ve got to go race him so that’s what I’m trying to do."

Guys races again in the 4x200m freestyle relay on Wednesday morning (3.38am), and will hope to replicate his performance at the World Championships last year when a storming final leg led the British team to gold.

“I’m getting better and better,” at the Olympics, added Guy. “After the (200 free) semi-finals, I did some additional speed work. I’m only going to get better.”