Olympic Champion Adam Peaty Swaps Pool For Race Track

We’re used to seeing British breaststroker Adam Peaty break records and stand atop podiums when it comes to racing in the swimming pool. But the man recently took on a competitive challenge of another type, steering his way through the curves of a race track.

In the build-up to this summer’s Olympic Games, 26-year-old Peaty has been announced as the new brand ambassador for performance car manufacturer CUPRA. Part of the Volkswagen Group, CUPRA develops high-performance versions of road cars and competes on the tour and rally car circuits.

For Peaty’s challenge, the new dad raced several heats of the Oulton Park Circuit in a CUPRA Formentor Performance SUV, striving to better his timed result with each outing. He knocked it down from 1:32.40 at the onset to 1:24.90 in the final, mimicking the prowess he puts on display in his typical aquatic domain.

Of the parallelling experience, Peaty said, “Every single season I say to myself, what can I do better, how can I get faster, and I take it down to analyzing every single stroke. It really just comes down to me being competitive, it’s not really about racing anyone else, it’s about racing myself, what’s the best version of myself and how can I get faster, and ultimately you want to break world records, so that’s the ultimate goal.

No world records today, but I debriefed myself after every lap and took the same approach as I would in the pool.”

Peaty recently took the British title in his signature 100m breaststroke at the nation’s Oympic Trials, with his result there in London now rendering him the owner of the top 20 fastest performances all-time in the event.

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ACC fan
2 years ago

Stupid decision for him, good for his competition.

Spotted Zebra
2 years ago

@Retta Race: “…mimicking the prowess he puts on display in his typical aquatic domain” — what an elegant phrase.
✨✒️📜✨

Last edited 2 years ago by Spotted Zebra
Admin
2 years ago

I now know that when I grow up — I want to be Adam Peaty

Hswimmer
Reply to  Gold Medal Mel Stewart
2 years ago

I want a baby as cute as his

Anonymoose
Reply to  Hswimmer
2 years ago

i want a baby as cute as mel

(also, baby and cute in one sentence is obv a contradiction but we)

Thomas
2 years ago

anyone else think this was maybe a late April fools joke just after reading the title?

Last edited 2 years ago by Thomas
Markster
Reply to  Thomas
2 years ago

Just you

Crk
2 years ago

Lewis Hamilton is shaking in his racing boots

Chris DeBari
2 years ago

is it weird for me to think, shouldn’t he not risk injury doing this right before the olympics?

Emg1986
Reply to  Chris DeBari
2 years ago

Why hasn’t he been put in bubble wrap? That’s what I think.

Konner Scott
Reply to  Chris DeBari
2 years ago

Not weird at all. We all remember Caeleb’s motorcycle incident.

Sun Yangs Hammer
Reply to  Chris DeBari
2 years ago

I reckon he could crash a motorcycle full Caeleb and still win

swimfan210_
Reply to  Sun Yangs Hammer
2 years ago

Kamminga just went 57.9

FST
Reply to  Chris DeBari
2 years ago

I think everyone… at least everyone who’s ever coached swimming at whatever level… thought EXACTLY that. I know I did.

Where the wall go?
Reply to  Chris DeBari
2 years ago

Probably a higher risk of being injured driving to practice than by himself on a track. Maybe he should just live at the pool so he doesn’t have to drive at all! And sleep in the pool so he doesn’t risk a slip on the pool deck!

About Retta Race

Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having just earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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