Freya Anderson is returning from the Tokyo Olympics with a gold medal achieved in exceptional circumstances.

Team GB continued their dominance in the pool on Saturday (July 31) when Adam Peaty, Kathleen Dawson, James Guy and Anna Hopkin won the 4x100m mixed medley relay final.

 

However, Anderson, who swam in the heats for Great Britain but was replaced by Hopkin for the final, still received a gold medal after the official ceremony.

Although sadly denied the chance to appear on the podium with her peers, she was presented with her medal later on, alongside her teammates, before being embraced by Peaty who lifted her off her feet in celebration.

Chester and District Standard: Freya Anderson was eliminated from both the 100m and 200m freestyle events at the semi-final stage. Photo: PAFreya Anderson was eliminated from both the 100m and 200m freestyle events at the semi-final stage. Photo: PA

The Wirral-born swimmer made it into the semi-finals of the women’s 100m freestyle event last Thursday, but could only finish sixth.

And although her time of 53:53 was an improvement on the 53:61 she clocked in her qualifying heat, it wasn’t quick enough to squeeze into the top eight finishers across both heats and secure a place in the final.

At the start of last week, Upton swimmer Anderson, who now trains permanently at the University of Bath, progressed from her heat in the 200m freestyle competition, but just like the 100m, came unstuck in the semi-final, finishing seventh with a time of 1:57:10.

The 20-year-old was also part of the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team that finished fifth in the final, competing alongside Anna Hopkin, Abbie Wood and Lucy Hope.

Chester and District Standard: Freya Anderson won six medals at the European ChampionshipsFreya Anderson won six medals at the European Championships

Anderson had been considered more of realistic medal prospect for the Paris Olympics in 2024, but after she won six medals at last month’s European Championships, including five golds, hopes of success in Tokyo were raised.