Matt Richards is embracing the weight of expectation at the Olympics as he insisted his mindset heading into Paris gives him an almost “invincible” aura.

At the delayed Tokyo Games in 2021, Richards, then only 18, was the junior swimmer alongside Tom Dean, James Guy and Duncan Scott as they captured gold for Team GB in the men’s 4×200 metres freestyle relay.

But Richards followed up a win in the 200m freestyle at last year’s World Championships by beating Dean and Scott, gold and silver medallists respectively in the event in Japan, in April’s Olympic trials.

“I want it more now than I ever did,” he said. “What happened in Tokyo was fantastic and it was a great result but I’m definitely ready to step on now, move that forward and improve on that performance.

“I see pressure as a privilege – you only feel it when you’ve done something that makes you deserve that pressure. I know from what I’ve done in training and in the last year, I’ve earned some pressure.

“I’m putting pressure on myself, I’m excited, I know I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in by a mile, I’m ready to get out there and race. I’m just in a really good place where I’m loving what I’m doing."

Richards is set to be involved in the 100m and 200m freestyle events, both individual and relay, plus the 4x100m medley relay.

“Being able to be in the individual events and win those races at trials is a great stepping stone on the journey into the Olympics but we’ve got a hell of a job to do,” Richards said.

“It’s not going to be easy to get out there and win those races but that’s absolutely what I’m going there to try to do.”

If he is on the podium in all five events, he will become the most decorated British athlete at a single Games, which would see him eclipse friend and rival Scott, who won four medals in Tokyo.