Silver again for Duncan Scott in Tokyo, this time in the 200 metres individual medley. The fourth time, over two Games, that he has been the runner-up in an Olympic final. A penny for them? “Not PG words,” he replied. “Initially … really gutted.”

Some perspective will come. Especially with a place assured now in the pantheon that will underpin the Scot’s extraordinary accomplishments in the pool. Throw in his gold in the men’s 4x200 freestyle relay and his second place to compatriot Tom Dean in the 200m freestyle and he is now the first British swimmer to claim three medals at any one Games since Henry Taylor in 1908.

One further tilt left in Tokyo. Early on Sunday morning, bar a calamity in Friday evening’s heats, he is set to go for his fourth here in the men’s 4x100 medley in which a line-up which also includes the incomparable Adam Peaty can place the cherry atop the UK’s largest-ever cake of results in the pool at an Olympics.

Favourites, a podium of any colour would make the 24-year-old from Alloa the most decorated Olympian at any single Games after joining an illustrious list of hat-trick history makers that includes his fellow Scot Chris Hoy. Not a factoid on which he had dwelled, however.

“I came into this competition targeting my two individuals and my relays so far have had great opportunities,” he said. “With me being a part of relay teams, I’ve got to credit a lot of people around me as well. But it’s not something I’ve particularly thought about. I’m still got plenty to do before I can start thinking about it.”

His performance in the individual medley is the consequence of immense effort, this medal one attributed as much to his personal dedication as raw athletic talent. Four strokes. His freestyle a thing of natural beauty. The butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke demanding diligence at his University of Stirling base to bring them up to speed.

It so nearly brought him the elusive solo gold, accelerating from fifth place at the last turn with his freestyle in full flight to lower his British record to 1 min 55.28 sec, just 0.28 seconds behind the Chinese winner Shun Wang.

Yet his personal expectations are so stratospherically high that even the best of all his silvers felt terrestrial. “Times at this meet and in an Olympic final almost go out the window for me,” he said. “I’ve even had enough time to let it sink it in. It was a massive personal best again. I’ve dropped over 1.5 seconds in this event this year. I’m still learning it.

“I did the worlds final. Commonwealth Games and then this one now. I’m still learning it quite a lot. I’m happy with that. I can hold my head high. It was a big PB. Just not enough again.”

Now for the medley, where anything less than the aquatic equivalent of a baton drop should procure gold with James Guy and Luke Greenbank as proven performers. “The other three guys have been swimming excellently,” Scott underlined. “So I have to do my bit.”

Greenbank followed others’ lead with bronze in the 200m backstroke in 1:54.72. It was a repeat of the 1-2-3 from the 2019 world championships with Russian Evgeny Rylov nabbing gold with an Olympic record time of 1:53.27 to hold off Ryan Murphy of the USA.

The sport’s governing body FINA has, however, long been accused of defending the indefensible over incessant rumours of Russian doping in aquatic circles and its outlier stance against calls for complete bans until the country has irrefutably cleaned up its act.

Afterwards, Murphy lit a match under the issue and Greenbank poured fuel on the fire. “I’ve got about 15 thoughts: about 13 of them would get me into trouble,” the American said. “It is a huge mental drain on me to go through the year that I’m swimming in a race that’s probably not clean.”

“I am always tested,” rebuffed Rylov, sat between his discomfited rivals in the press conference. “I will fill out all of the forms. From the bottom of my heart, I am for clean sport.” A bizarre social media statement from his country’s Olympic Committee was stronger still.

“How unnerving our victories are of individual colleagues in the shop. Yes, we are here at the Olympics. Absolutely right. Whether someone likes it or not. But you have to be able to lose. But not everyone is given this. The old hurdy-gurdy again started the song about Russian doping. Someone Spinning A Knob. English-language propaganda, oozing verbal sweat in the Tokyo heat. Through the mouths of athletes offended by defeats. We will not console you. Forgive those who are weaker. God is their judge. And for us - an assistant.”

Shame on FINA for closing one eye, Greenbank alleged. 

“It's obviously a very difficult situation, not knowing whether who you are racing against is clean,” the 23-year-old Cumbrian admitted. “It is something that is part of the sport. And more needs to be done to tackle that. It’s a frustrating situation. But I just have to keep my mind on my race and focus on what I can control.” 

In the women’s 200m breaststroke final, South Africa’s Tatjana Schoenmaker set a world record to win in 2:18.95 with British pair Molly Renshaw and Abbie Wood sixth and seventh. While Australia’s Emma McKeon earned her maiden individual Olympic gold in the 100m freestyle, producing the second-fastest time ever of 51.96 secs with Englishwoman Anna Hopkin seventh.