Tokyo 2020: Adam Peaty: 'Disappointment at silver shows how far we have come'

Britain finished 0.73secs adrift in a new European record time as they claimed a record eighth swimming medal – four golds, three silvers and a bronze – beating their previous best haul from the 1908 London Games.

They were unable to win a race at London 2012 while Peaty was their only gold medallist at Rio four years later, so the 26-year-old from Uttoxeter admitted to feeling bittersweet by the result of the final swimming event in Japan.

"I don't want to take anything away from the American team," Peaty said. "They stepped up big time. They knew they had to step up big time. It's an Olympic silver, people would die for that.

"We will enjoy it but there is a little bit of pain there. Maybe you need that. Maybe you need that going to Paris (2024). Ten years ago we were happy making finals. We aren't happy making finals any more.

"We are happy doing silver and medalling – that's the culture that is different now – and that's part of our success. We are aiming for gold, we are aiming to be the best in the world and dominate the world.

"By the time Paris comes around we are going to develop. A lot of teams are going to look at us. We are always looking for gold and for world records, I'm incredibly proud to be part of this team – it's history-making."

Peaty swam the fastest breaststroke split ever in 56.53s to vault Britain from seventh after the backstroke to first by the halfway point, but the vaunted Caeleb Dressel seized the initiative with the best ever butterfly leg.

Dressel, who bagged his fifth gold of these Games in this race, put in a time of 49.03s to set the stage for Zach Apple to complete the job, with Scott unable to make any inroads in the last freestyle leg.

Dressel, said: "I was telling Adam that I think they bring out the best in us, it's so fun racing with those guys because you don't know what you're going to get. There's no guaranteed winner."

Scott has won gold in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay and silver in the solo event, as well as finishing runner-up in the 200m individual medley, and it was another second spot on the podium as he made British history on Sunday.

He said: "It's not really hit me what's happened. Each race I've tried to park when it's done and look forward to the next one. It was important I didn't bring in any disappointment or get too excited about what's happened.

"I think the relay culture in Britain is great. There are great medal opportunities. I've got to give a massive credit to my team-mates."

A period of rest and recovery now awaits. Asked how they will unwind, Guy joked "a burger and some chips will do me" while Peaty offered a more sobering reflection at how important time away from the pressures of the sport is.

He said: "You've got to celebrate, it's been hard for everyone. We're not allowed to touch the water for a month now because it is going to be a war of attrition over the next three years.

"You're seeing it in all sports now. You're seeing it with Simone Biles, with Ben Stokes, mental health matters and it is about getting the balance right at that elite level. We love to celebrate, and why shouldn't we?"

Ben Proud earlier finished fifth in the men's 50m freestyle final won by Dressel in an Olympic record time of 21.07s while Daniel Jervis also placed fifth in a 1500m freestyle race where Robert Finke of the USA triumphed in 14:39.65.