Great Britain’s Adam Peaty cried “happy tears” during an emotional post-race interview with the BBC following his silver medal finish in the 100 breaststroke in Paris.
“I’m happy with a silver,” Peaty said. “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. It’s got the best out of me.”
Peaty, the two-time defending Olympic champion in the 100 breast, was a favorite to win but tied for silver with Team USA’s Nic Fink in a time of 59.05, just .02 behind gold-medalist Nicolo Martinenghi. Had Peaty pulled off the win, he would have joined Michael Phelps as only the second man in history to win three straight Olympic golds in the same event.
“I’m not crying because I’ve come second. I’m crying because it took so much to get here.”
During a press conference later Sunday night, Peaty reflected more on the surprises both in his race and in the sport and not letting it define him.
“I’m not going to define my whole career, in terms of the ups and the downs, by a medal. I’m just so happy to be among these incredible athletes.”
You can watch the full clip from the press conference below.
Adam Peaty‘s Post-Race Interview
greatest breastroker of all time and its not even close
From the overhead view Peaty clearly reached for the wall first. But for some reason he separated his hands as they got closer to the wall. They ended up split far apart. That was all the difference. The other two kept their hands together straight to the wall.
such a treat to have the 2 dads tie for 2nd!
You ate the best Adam, thank you for redefining breaststroke
Greatest 50-100 breastroker ever!