World Record holder and 2024 Paris Olympic silver medalist Adam Peaty will be taking time away from swimming after his time at the Paris Olympics. Peaty notably tested positive for COVID-19 in the middle of competition.
Peaty said in an interview with the BBC, “If my heart wants it, my heart wants it, and I’ll absolutely sign that contract with myself to do it.” He continued, “Maybe a long way away. But I think I’ve got to step away from the sport, really, because it’s just hurt too much this time..It really has.”
“I don’t really know what the answer is,” Peaty said of his future plans. “If my family needs me, my family needs me… You can’t lie to your heart and if the heat does want it, the heart does want it. I’m going to enjoy today instead of worrying about tomorrow.”
Peaty tested positive for COVID-19 early Monday morning, just hours after winning silver in the men’s 100 breaststroke on Sunday night. His symptoms got worse after the final and he tested the next morning. That test came back positive for COVID-19.
Peaty took five days off of competition and returned for prelims of Great Britain’s men’s 4×100 medley relay on Saturday morning. With his return, he spoke about the last week, “Everything’s come at once. Since Covid, it’s just every day waking up with a different thing.”
“The medical team’s been brilliant. I think it’s just a victory getting on that start block there,” Peaty continued. “Hopefully, that’ll give my body a nice little push for tomorrow.”
Peaty swam on the men’s 4×100 medley relay in finals, splitting a 58.16. He holds the seven fastest 100 breaststroke relay splits in history, with his fastest being a 56.53 from Tokyo.
Peaty took some time away from elite competition in 2023, withdrawing from the British Swimming Championships/World Trials in March due to mental health reasons. He subsequently did not race at the 2023 World Championships.
Peaty’s coach Mel Marshall is set to move to Australia to take over at Griffith University. Peaty spoke on the move of his coach today as well, “Tonight it could have been emotional. It was her last one with me, in that sense, and it could have been my last one.”
Peaty continued, “I don’t know – I think for her, she’s got an incredible future ahead of her, and the talent that’s hopefully going to swim her way in Australia. She deserves it. She deserves to lead that platform and deserves to give the best to them.”
Peaty won gold in the men’s 100 breast in both the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Games. He was just 0.02 seconds short of gold in Paris, swimming a 59.05 to tie for silver while Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi won gold in a 59.03.
Even before his issues this last year or so, have always felt that Peaty is a complex character. And the bravado and ‘project immortal’ nonsense seemed to be masking some demons.
What can’t be doubted is that he’s been a fabulous swimmer and competitor – perhaps at least partly because of this complexity.
Obviously no idea what he’s going to do next! But I hope he’s happy and healthy. It’s been great watching him.
A month in Australia will do him good. (He said on the BBC that he is going out there this winter). Hopefully Holly will go too, and he can make a decision about where his future lies, at least in the short term.
He’s had a rough meet and some bad luck this week. But is and will always be an absolute champion. Even if he hadn’t had a tough meet, he is still 29, so it’s not going to get any easier from here on out. Huge respect, whatever his decision.
I never fancied the Project Immortal stuff; it sounded all a bit too contrived.
Peaty’s been a superb swimmer, no doubt. But putting to rest the Project Immortal is a great idea.
58.1 after being sick…..he isn’t happy with that?
Just makes you wonder what he could have swam in the indervidual if he didn’t have Covid. Rotten timing to get a virus after putting in all that training.
If only there was some way to decrease one’s chances of getting an airborne virus the week of the Olympics!
Project Immortal