Adam Peaty: Brit revels in ‘true joy’ despite missing out on 2024 Paris Olympic Games gold - 'I couldn’t give it more’
Published 28/07/2024 at 23:11 GMT+1
Adam Peaty admitted he gave it his all after missing out on a third straight Olympic gold in the men’s 100m breaststroke by just 0.02 seconds. The Team GB athlete was looking to emulate Michael Phelps after overcoming mental health struggles and burnout to make the Paris 2024 Games. He was denied a rare three-peat by Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi, who took the surprise gold.
'I couldn't give it more' - Emotional Peaty reflects on silver medal in 100m breaststroke
Video credit: TNT Sports
An emotional Adam Peaty said he felt “true joy” after settling for joint-silver in the men’s 100m breaststroke as Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi claimed a shock Olympic gold in Paris.
The 29-year-old was aiming to join the legendary Michael Phelps and become just the second swimmer to win three consecutive Olympic golds in the same event but was pipped to the wall by 0.02 seconds in what was a slow final.
He shared the silver with USA’s Nic Fink in 59.05 seconds but was able to take the positives after a turbulent period out of the pool in recent years.
Asked how he felt during the highly anticipated final inside the La Defense Arena, he told Eurosport: “True joy in every stroke. True joy, no matter what that scoreboard says.”
He added: “I mean it could have gone the other way, it could have been a bronze medal by 0.01, so I think that as a man I just approach life very differently.
“This past 14 months I have approached the sport differently, I’ve got to win and lose by my faith, I’ve got to win and lose by everyday turning up and give it my absolute all.
“I couldn’t give it more and I am emotional, but they are happy emotions and I think it tested me in ways where I can’t even comprehend.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2024/07/28/4011926-81376168-2560-1440.jpg)
'There will be no three-peat' - Peaty takes silver in dramatic 100m breaststroke final
Video credit: TNT Sports
“I am happy with that and I think, yes some people will be like ‘oh yeah he got a silver medal after two gold medals’ but we must remember no one ever wins three in a row because it so difficult to do cause you have got to be this different athlete every single time and it’s got to be a different sacrifice that sometimes as an older man you don’t want to pay.
“My love for my family, my love for my son is greater than the love of a gold medal and unfortunately when that is in relationship with sport, someone is going to beat you and that’s just the way it is.”
- Murray farewell campaign still alive after saving five match points in miraculous win
- Marchand sets Olympic record to take gold in men’s 400m individual medley
Peaty was open about his battles with depression and alcoholism after capturing gold at the Tokyo 2020 games and took a break from the sport last year due to feeling burnt out.
He nearly quit but returned armed with new-found perspective on life and nearly pulled off a fairytale three-peat.
After a slow start, he made the turn second and moved ahead with 25m to go but couldn’t quite maintain his advantage.
“I think in my head, I look at it, it was meant to be,” he added, “and I think to show that you can win and lose like a champion and in my heart really truly feel it and not having something that is fake.
“I think that is the man I always wanted to be.”
Attention will soon turn to his future in the sport, but he refused to be drawn on whether he would retire or carry on.
“I have got so much to look forward to in my life ahead of this, whether it is in sport whether it is out because of this new way I approach things,” he continued.
“I’ll never ever lose who I am and that is my fire, and I am looking forward to finding ahead of my life, the whole way.”
- - -
discovery+ is the streaming home of the Olympic Games, and the only place you can watch every moment of Paris 2024 this summer
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement