From the young boy who was scared of the bath to the best to ever do it, the incredible rise of British swimmer Adam Peaty over the last decade is one of the most awe-inspiring and astounding sporting stories of the 21st century, and despite his sensational success, it is still one that goes criminally under the radar.
From battling mental health to injury setbacks, well-documented relationship troubles, falling out of love with swimming, and constant media intrusion, this is a tale of resilience in the face of adversity and hopefully the renaissance of Britain’s greatest swimmer.
Background
Peaty was born in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, and had a childhood love for swimming. He burst onto the swimming scene in 2014 at the European Championships, the then 18-year-old decimated the 50m breaststroke record that stood at the time in emphatic fashion. Following that, next on the list was to claim gold in the 100m breaststroke at the Commonwealth Games as if it were nothing.
The breaststroke sensation debuted at the World Championships in 2015, when it was being held in Kazan. His swim was highly anticipated, and Peaty did not disappoint; he took gold in the 50m and 100m events; the latter, surprise surprise, was a world record.
Meanwhile, he also went one better than the year prior and contributed to the mixed 4x100m medley relay team, who achieved the world record for the second time.
With Rio 2016 on the horizon, the European Championships in the May offered the perfect preparation for what was about to be the biggest summer of his sporting career. The swimmer set the precedent for things to come: two golds in the 50m and 100m events, never in doubt, and a victory in two medley relays, a welcomed bonus.
It is fair to say that the 2016 Games could not have gone any better for Peaty. He was the first member of Team GB to take gold in Brazil and, more importantly, the first Olympic champion in the pool since 1988, ending a 28-year absence of swimming medals for GB.
Claiming gold in the 100m breaststroke and silver in the men’s 4x100m medley, the phenomenon left South America as GB’s most decorated swimmer. Added to that, the governing body FINA awarded him “Best Male Swimming Performance” of the Rio 2016.
In the years to come, Peaty’s ascendancy was like nothing the swimming world had seen since the days of Michael Phelps.
A fifth global title and three medals at the World Championships in Budapest made him the most successful British male swimmer ever in the competition. He not only beat the world record once for the 50m breaststroke but twice, going sub 26 seconds. Along with that, he took global titles in the 100m event and Men’s 4x100m.
The “triple-quad” at the 2018 Glasgow European Championships was next on the agenda, victorious in the 50m, 100m, men's, and mixed 4x100m.
The national centre Loughborough athlete steered Team England to glory at the 2019 Commonwealth Games, pulling his quartet back into the race in the mixed relay; however, there was some rare disappointment for him in the 50m when he touched out at the wall and could only muster silver.
This was soon forgotten as he achieved his eighth World Championship gold medal in Gwangju 2019, successfully defending his 50m and 100m breaststroke double and breaking a world record set by himself in the latter event. In the semi-final, he set a time of 56.88.
COVID struck and put a brief pause on proceedings.
Heading into 2021, Peaty held each of the 20 fastest times ever recorded over the 100m breaststroke.
Therefore, he was the clear favourite for breaststroke at Tokyo 2020. He repaid the faith bestowed upon him by the swimming faithful by making history as the first British swimmer to defend an Olympic title. In Japan, he triumphed in the 100m event and the 4 x 100m mixed medley.
His 2021 just kept getting better and better; the 25-year-old completed the “quadruple quadruple” at the 2021 Budapest European Championships, which involved winning the 50m and 100m alongside the two relays.
Peaty sustained the first major injury setback of his career; problems with his foot meant he was absent from the 2022 World Championships. It was not long though until he returned to his winning ways, gold in the 50m and 100m followed at the British Swimming Championships. He won another gold at the Commonwealth Games the same year.
However, 44 golds, nine silvers, and four bronze medals require a great deal of self-sacrifice and take a massive mental toll, so much so that in March 2023, it was widely reported that Peaty opted to step away from the sport, quite rightly putting his mental well-being first.
Unbeknownst to the public, Peaty, in his own words, had endured “three years of hell” between 2020 and 2023. He battled depression and alcohol-related issues.
According to his mum via the BBC, her son was "suffering,” and she went on to wish for him to have some “normality” now.
Continuing, Mrs Peaty insisted the break made him “a better Adam,” who is now going into the Games next week with an “open mind”.
But make no mistake about it, his mum hopes he will give up swimming after Paris 2024.
Speaking to the Independent in October 2023, Peaty said on the issue: “I pretty much hated it. But now I’m enjoying it so much again; I’m the happiest I have ever been and the most calculated and balanced too.
“[Paris 2024] It’s a great challenge, and I thrive when given a great challenge. I’m looking for my final form in terms of everything: my life and my relationships with people too. He continued: “But when I get there, hopefully, I give my best performance. No stone is left unturned; that’s my goal. No regrets.”
The same year the now 29-year-old replaced the water for the dancefloor with a brief but memorable stint on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, he also cemented his relationship with Holly Ramsey, daughter of celebrity chief Gordon Ramsey.
The previous relationship troubles and physical altercation with fellow Team GB swimmer Luke Greenbank are in the past for Peaty, who enters Paris 2024 with a renewed sense of determination.
“This is the real win for my team, my family, and myself. We have come through the past three years of hell; I didn’t want to see a pool again. The sport had broken me,” said the swimmer.
Eyeing a historic treble, should he be victorious in another men’s 100m breaststroke event and clinch the title, he would be the second man behind Michael Phelps to win three successive Olympic swimming titles in the same event.
Surely he deserves to be the flag bearer for Team GB?
How they qualified
Peaty sealed his participation at Paris 2024 with a scintillating world-leading time of 57.94 at the Aquatics GB Swimming Championship in the 100m breaststroke.
Two months prior, the swimmer picked up a bronze at the World Aquatics Championship in Doha.
Having put together a 58.53 run in the heats, these times would have sufficed the 59.45 seconds demanded to meet the British nomination standard for the Olympics.
However, Peaty blew it out of the water and achieved the fastest time of the calendar year.
Event Info
It is an instant start to proceedings for the swimmers at the Olympics. The Games begin on Friday, July 26, and the swimming events get underway the day after on Saturday, July 27.
Peaty is in action immediately in the 100m breaststroke heats, which are expected to take place at 10am UK time.
That evening, the semi-finals lie in wait, and given that it is likely Peaty will go through, he will find himself in the pool around 8:15pm.
Progression through the semi-final, of course, spells a place in the final. Hopefully, the Team GB athlete will be going for gold on Sunday, July 28.
Expect the 100m breaststroke final to start at 8:54pm.
Peaty is also a part of both medley relays. The heats for this event are the following weekend.
The mixed event takes place on Friday, August 2, while the men's event occurs the day after, on Saturday, August 3.
Both will be in the morning session, beginning at 10am. However, the finals take place in the evening.
The mixed final is at 8:33 p.m. on August 3. The men's final will be the second last indoor swimming event of the Olympics and happens at 6:12pm August 4.
As of now, the talented current world champion Haiyang Qin is the favourite for the 100m breaststroke event, standing in the way of Peaty making history.
Qin also took the 50m and 200m crowns at the event, setting a world record time for the latter.
His best time of the year is 57.69, which beats Peaty's 57.94, albeit narrowly. It is certainly going to be a contest between the top two.
Nic Fink of the United States could also prove an issue for Peaty; he claimed his first men's 100m breaststroke long course title at the Doha 2024 World Aquatics Championships.
The BBC will be streaming two live streams at any one time during the Olympics, you can watch the swimming on the main channel or on iPlayer.
Expectation
You do not have to be an expert on swimming to predict that Peaty will claim gold in the 100m breaststroke and make history. The 29-year-old is the most experienced and decorated swimmer competing at Paris 2024.
His absence has given rise to the likes of Qin and Fink, the latter of whom is currently swimming faster than the Loughborough centre athlete; however, it could be Peaty's last ever Games, and he will be motivated to bounce back in the ultimate fashion and triumph at his third Olympics.
The British Swimming Championships was his first real test following his hiatus, and he passed it with flying colours. Even though he did not swim as fast as Qin, the Olympics has always brought the best out of the Englishman.
A medal is guaranteed, but winning the gold will be a tough task. There is little to separate the pair; the heats will provide a good indication of the speeds Peaty will reach in the pool come the final and whether it is enough to beat Qin.
It is looking like it will his last Games, only a gold medal will be a fitting end for Adam Peaty and considered a success.
