The incredible story of Adam Peaty: From rock-bottom to another Olympic medal

There is little doubting Adam Peaty’s greatness having already won three Olympic gold medals, but following battles with alcohol abuse and mental health issues, his silver medal in the Paris 2024 men’s 100m breaststroke may be his greatest performance yet.

Peaty looked to be in position to win, battling America’s Nic Fink. Two hundredths of a second ahead Peaty and Fink, who shared silver, Nicolo Martinenghi of Italy finished first, claiming gold in a shocking upset.

Per Sun Sport, Peaty immediately congratulated the Italian, smiling through the defeat.

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Speaking to the BBC following the race, Peaty seemed emotional, when the BBC reporter attempted to console Peaty, he was quick to note, “It's not sad at all, if you're willing to put yourself on the line, there's no such thing as a loss.”

The British swimmer continued, “I'm happy with a silver. It's sport, I got blindsided, but it wasn't meant to be. This journey, 14 months, it's not for a medal, I define myself by my heart, what it's made me feel and produce.”

Peaty’s emotional post-race interview continued, with the Uttoxeter-born swimmer saying, “It's broken me this sport, but it's given me life and everything I am. Would it have been a fairytale ending? Of course, but it wasn't meant to be.”

At one point, Peaty held the top-20 100m breaststroke times ever, per The Independent, but following a difficult spell following Tokyo 2020, Peaty entered into a downward spiral.

2022 saw Peaty break his foot and struggle at the Commonwealth Games, finishing in an unprecedented fourth, per BBC Sport.

Peaty struggled through a year in which he didn’t compete in any swimming events, with depression and alcohol abuse taking the Olympic champion to rock bottom.

2022 also saw Peaty’s relationship break down, with the mother of his son, Eirianedd Munro, telling the Daily Mail about the swimmer’s alcohol abuse. She told MailOnline, “We continue to love, care and pray for Adam and are wishing him a full recovery.”

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Peaty announced his comeback in October 2023 with the breaststroke specialist setting his sights on another Olympic gold.

In the build up to Paris 2024, Peaty told BBC Sport, “People don't understand the sacrifice - the choices you have to make just for winning Olympic gold”. Peaty was indirectly talking about his son, George, who reportedly told Adam, “I love you Daddy,” following Sunday’s final.

Peaty told BBC Sport after his race, “I can't have that relentless pursuit every single day without a sacrifice of some sort, and that sacrifice can come in different ways - time, energy, relationships.”

He continued, “Anyone who has got kids will know, you love them with all your life. You have these moments where you have to prove yourself, and I think I proved myself tonight.”

If Peaty had finished three hundredths of a second faster in his final, he would have joined the elite group of Mo Farah, Matthew Pinsent and Ben Ainslie as Britain’s four-time Olympic champions.

There is more to come for Peaty at these games, with the possibility of two relays to compete in. A win would be the full-top on what has become a truly great Olympic career, with Peaty not expected to compete in 2028.

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