Will Martin didn’t expect to win gold on Wednesday. The 20-year old, originally selected for Team Australia for his trials performance in the 100 metres butterfly, was a last-minute addition by Australia to the 400 metres freestyle, to make up a third place still open after his countrymen, Alexander Tuckfield and world record holder Brenden Hall, had already qualified.

But Martin’s 4:10.25 swim in the final not only won him first place over France’s Ugo Didier and Tuckfield, it was only a whisker behind Hall’s 2013 record of 4:09.93.