The 28-year-old was fourth at halfway with all the action taking place in the centre lanes but he moved through the field to take the win in 2:08.96.<\/p>\n
Wilby splits<\/em>: 29.26\/1:02.16 (32.90)\/1:35.33 (33.17)\/2:08.96 (33.63)<\/p>\n Olympic bronze medallist Matti Mattsson<\/strong> became the first Finnish man to win a medal since Toivo Reingoldt<\/strong> topped the podium in 1931 when he touched for silver in 2:09.40 with\u00a0Luca Pizzini<\/strong> third in 2:09.97.<\/p>\n His joy was in stark contrast to the despair he felt 12 months ago after the Tokyo Olympics.<\/p>\n Sixth in the 200br was followed by silver after swimming the heats of the 4×100 medley relay as the British quartet finished second behind the United States.<\/p>\n Wilby, though, didn’t swim the prelims of the mixed medley relay which went on to get gold with every member of the quartet being awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours, so too the winning 4×200 free squad.<\/p>\n It hit the 28-year-old who said:<\/p>\n “It took about three months for me to actually get that medal that I won at the Games out of its bag that it was in.<\/p>\n “It took a number of months to actually sit down and look at it and be like \u2013 it wasn\u2019t me on the podium but it was me who contributed towards that medal win.<\/p>\n “It was a challenge \u2013 it really was. But I look back on that now and be like that\u2019s a learning experience for life, let alone just my swimming career so I am really proud of myself going through that.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n James Wilby: Photo Courtesy: British Swimming<\/p><\/div>\n Wilby, who is coached by Dave Hemmings<\/strong> at the Loughborough National Training Centre<\/strong>, struggled in Tokyo, something that continued on his return to Britain.<\/p>\n He said:<\/p>\n “It was a two-year struggle internally, not vocalising that, sharing that and seeking out the help I needed for that and it all culminated at the Olympic Games.<\/p>\n “Then a couple months after (the Games) were really quite rough and it was a real case of reaching out and getting the support I needed.<\/p>\n “Then also reassessing the way I approach the sport.<\/p>\n “I am keenly aware of how old I\u2019m becoming in terms of the rest of the team but it has been done before where older people are successful at major internationals.<\/p>\n “Coming into this year it was a case of having that reset until the December and getting back in in the January with a new approach, continual support, external support and just really focusing on that enjoyment.<\/p>\n “It became less about pressuring myself and overthinking things \u2013 very much just a case of this is what I\u2019ve achieved, being proud of what I\u2019ve achieved as well.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Wilby has had the sort of campaign he wouldn’t even have dared dream of 12 months ago.<\/p>\n He won bronze as part of the British men’s medley relay<\/a> at the World Championships<\/strong> in Budapest before claiming\u00a0gold in the 100 breaststroke at the Commonwealth Games<\/strong>, in the race in which Adam Peaty<\/strong> came fourth<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n
![\"James](\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/james-Wilby-700x500.jpg\")