PEATY TARGETS USA AFTER ADDING RELAY SILVER TO INDIVIDUAL GOLD

Just as they had last year at the Olympics, Britain closed out the World Swimming Championships in Budapest with a silver medal in the 4x100m medley relay, with Peaty again in a different league on the breaststroke leg.

The quartet of Chris Walker-Hebborn, Peaty, James Guy and Duncan Scott combined once more, finishing in a time of 3:28.95, a second behind the Americans.

That was three tenths quicker than in Rio, although Peaty's split of 56.91, while otherworldly, was a little slower than in Brazil.

Backstroker Walker-Hebborn, who has been ill this week, was also off the time he managed last year.

And with such a young team, and as a five-time World Champion, Peaty has the Americans in his sights.

He said: "We're going to go from strength to strength now. Obviously well done to the Americans, but realistically we're a very, very strong team.

"And I'm not going to be happy until we get that gold. That's what's going to take that extra bit now, we're going to have to push on like we haven't pushed on before and hopefully we're going to give them a nice run for their money in Tokyo in three years' time.

"I'm so proud of these boys. We're such a young team, but I'd do absolutely anything for them. That's what's going to count in three years' time.

"You're not going to have a closer knit bond or group going into that final in Tokyo."

That silver medal adds to the two golds Peaty has already won at the Duna Arena this week, taking his World Championship tally to six medals in all.

Next up for the breaststroke star will be the Commonwealth Games in April, in the Gold Coast, but just as he did after Rio, Peaty will be enjoying some time off – with the 22-year-old having already spoken this week about the importance of having balance between his life in and out of the pool.

He added: "We do a lot of celebrations. Two, three weeks now of just chilling with my mates, a few beers. Stuff I can't do when I'm training.

"You've got to celebrate in style because that's what makes me stronger and faster.

"After Rio I had two months of just celebrations, partying and stuff.

"Then I was like 'right, I'm ready to smack it now, get back in the water, give it 110 per cent'. Only (coach) Mel (Marshall) will know when I'm ready."

Elsewhere on the final night there was disappointment for Max Litchfield, who took two seconds off the 400m individual medley time he managed in Rio, but finished in the same spot of fourth.

That was a second fourth-place finish of the week for the medley specialist, but was still a Commonwealth record.

Finally Hannah Miley came eighth in the final of the 400m medley, while Sarah Vasey was sixth in the 50m breaststroke before helping the women's 4x100m medley relay to seventh alongside Kathleen Dawson, Charlotte Atkinson and Freya Anderson.

Sportsbeat 2017