Team GB ace Max Litchfield described as ‘unluckiest swimmer ever’ after yet another excruciating Olympic medal miss

TEAM GB swimmer Max Litchfield was labelled the “unluckiest swimmer ever” after missing out on a medal to finish fourth at a THIRD consecutive Olympic Games.

The Sheffield-born athlete, 29, had already come perilously close to a podium place in the 400 metre individual medley in both Rio and Tokyo.

Great Britain’s Max Litchfield finished fourth at a third successive Olympic GamesPA

Litchfield set a new British record but still narrowly missed out on a medal yet againX / @BBCSport

And it was more heartbreak for Litchfield in Paris on Sunday night despite him breaking his own British record with a time of 4:08:85.

He finished just 0.19 seconds behind American Carson Foster who claimed the bronze medal.

Frenchman Leon Marchand won gold by more than five seconds, while Japan’s Tomoyuki Matsushita took silver.

Litchfield’s medal agony was etched all over his face as he discussed his feelings after the race.

The BBC interviewer called him the “unluckiest swimmer ever in 400 IM”, before he gave an honest account of his emotions.

The Team GB star said: “I don’t really know what to say. It’s my best time, it’s still a British record.

“It’s hard, it’s so bitter sweet because of that but I’ve given it my everything physically, mentally, emotionally, it’s just not meant to be again.

“But, you know, I’ve come fourth at three Olympics on the trot, there’s not many people that can say they’ve done that. It’s just tough that it’s so close again.

OLYMPICS FREE BETS – SIGN UP OFFERS AND DEAL FOR PARIS 2024

“But yeah, I gave it my everything so I can’t complain. Well I can, I’m upset, but I’ve done everything I possibly could so it is just sport.”

Litchfield claimed a world championship silver medal in the 400 IM earlier this year, while he also has silver and bronze medals at the European Championships and a gold at the European Short Course Championships from five years ago.

He is not competing in any of the relays at the Paris Games, so does not have any more opportunities to claim that elusive medal.

Litchfield’s fourth place came just hours before two-time Olympic champion Adam Peaty won silver in the 100m breaststroke as Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi pipped him to gold by 0.02 seconds.