Gutted Team GB silver medallist Matt Richards claims ‘I thought I finished first’ as Adam Peaty curse strikes again

MATT RICHARDS thought he’d won gold – then feared he was the victim of a CURSE after missing OUT by just 0.02 seconds.

The “gutted” Team GB swimmer fell short of the top gong in the 200m freestyle final by exactly the same margin legendary team-mate Adam Peaty missed a Paris gold.

Matt Richards believed for a split second he had bagged gold

David Popovici was adjudged the winner by a tiny margin

PARichards claimed he was at least happy to win his first individual Olympic gong[/caption]

Romania’s red-hot favourite David Popovici nicked victory ahead of Richards after the tightest of final 50m bursts.

USA star Luke Hobson pipped Brit Duncan Scott for bronze.

Richards told the BBC: “I thought I had got it, it felt as if I had touched it first.

“The time says differently. It is not a sport that is up for debate, it is black and white.

“It wasn’t my best finish, I would be lying if I said it was fantastic. We move on, we get better and try to get it next time.”

He was then asked if he thought repeating Peaty’s margin of misfortune was a curse.

Richards replied: “It seems that way.”

But he added: “I can’t be too disappointed with that. My first individual at an Olympic games so to come away with a silver is great.

EPAWinner David Popovici embraces unlucky Matthew Richards[/caption]

“To be two one hundredths off gold is excruciatingly frustrating.”

Richards had picked up a team gold in the 4x200m relay at Tokyo 2020.

And after appearing to falter as the 200m entered the final 15m in Paris, he suddenly found a spurt of pace that threatened Popovici.

After losing out moments later by the thickness of a swimming cap, Richards won’t be the only one who, for a split-second, believed he had edged gold.

Many fans on social media certainly agreed with his initial verdict.

One viewer posted: “Matthew Richards was robbed in the 200m freestyle. Oh well!”

The swimmer also revealed his agony for team-mate Scott.

Richards said: “Look, if anything it has added more fire to my belly. I’ve got a lot more to come this week.

“It fuels me on for the rest of the week.

“Gutted for Duncan, myself and him in second and fourth, just missing out on the medal he deserves it more than anyone – that bodes really well for our 4x200m.”

GettyFellow Brit Duncan Scott suffered agony too, just missing out on a bronze[/caption]