2022 BRITISH SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Tuesday, April 5th – Sunday, April 10th
- Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, Sheffield
- LCM (50m)
- World Championships & Commonwealth Games-qualifying competition
- British Swimming 2022 Budapest Selection Policy
- Commonwealth Games Selection Policies vary by home nation
- SwimSwam Preview
- Draft Entries
- Live Results
- Livestream
Adam Peaty was happy with his performance in the men’s 100 breaststroke on the opening night of finals at the 2022 British Swimming Trials in Sheffield, having picked up the win in a time of 58.58.
While the swim doesn’t even rank inside Peaty’s top 30 performances in the event, he was pleased with where he was given his recent layoff outside of the pool.
“This morning was ropey. Three races into my season, it’s always going to be like that, no matter whether it’s a British Champs or an open meet in the middle of February,” said Peaty, who opened his season in March at the FFN Golden Tour in Marseille.
“For me, it’s good progression. It shows the speed is there, it’s a little bit harder to get there – I’m usually out in a 26.7, tapered.”
Peaty was out in 27.18 in his swim tonight, and had previously been 59.83 in Marseille before clocking 59.58 in the prelims.
“But that’s a real confidence boost for me because this year, it’s more of a comeback than a continuation of what I’m doing.
“It’s not continuing over – when you have five months off, you see the likes of Michael Phelps having five months off after the Olympics, it’s hard to get back to that stage quickly.”
Looking ahead to the World Championships in June, Peaty of course wants to defend his title in the event—one he’s won three times in a row—but says he’s got “nothing to prove” in Budapest and all of his energy is currently gearing towards the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
“We’ve had the delay in the Worlds, so we can now do it in June,” he said, with the meet originally scheduled to take place in May in Fukuoka, Japan. “I know I can get down to something there if I apply myself right, but I’ve got nothing to prove now. I said over there, this is bonus territory now – I’ve won everything there is to be won, as humbly as I can say that.
“I’m so grateful to the team around me that keep me in top shape when we can. Obviously, you’re going to get a bit of illness, a bit of injury. But I’m happy with where I’m at. I’m happy with my lifestyle, I’m happy with my training.
“This year, I’ve got nothing to prove, it’s all about Paris.”
Peaty currently ranks second in the world this season, trailing only the Netherlands’ Arno Kamminga (58.52).
Peaty was also happy to have his family (and spectators in general) back in the stands, and finished off by adding that above all else, he loves to win.
“It’s a good place to be. I just want to take as many people on this journey into Paris now as I can. I don’t think I could’ve done that tonight without having my family in the crowd, having all these people in the crowd.
“This is what sport is all about, right? It’s not about the time on the clock, it’s about the winning, showing you can do it when you’re not meant to do it and breaking world records when you can do it! It’s very simple for me.
“This is what it’s about, this is what it’s always been about.”
Peaty is beatable.
keep dreaming….
Perhaps a bit of lost motivation after winning all these years. I think he will still win but it will be a lot closer like in 2015 worlds against CVD. If he loses he will gain the motivation again.
If he gets beat by Kamminga he’ll be singing a different tune. Hasn’t he also been pretty outspoken about his goal of putting up a TIME that will be unbeaten for longer than average?
Odd statements from the champ.
Watch out for Nicolo Martinenghi too.
Never understood placing so little emphasis on the Worlds meet, especially when the Brits are in a constant back and forth with the Americans in the 400 medley relay. Should worlds be his main concern right now? Maybe not, that’s up to him and his training plan for Paris, but I don’t know if I agree with “nothing to prove” when everyone else on his team will be fighting to place as high as possible at Worlds.
Yes, but he’s Adam Peaty and he truly has nothing left to prove (though I wish we could have seen a tapered 200 breast around ’17-19).
As far as the team aspect, he has been “on” for 7 years straight and I don’t know how much else he owes to his country.
Project Immortal—as silly as its premise may be—is the only thing keeping him from retiring, so I’m happy to see him all in on that.
*The only thing keeping him from retiring is money.
That’s why he left Arena and joined Speedo.
Yes, he seems to be more of a celebrity now, and swimming is – for now – the only way he can keep himself relevant as a celebrity. Be interesting to see how that plays out, feels like that’s not as strong a motivation to really dig in. But more power to him, he’s earned the right to do whatever the hell he wants.
“…but says he’s got “nothing to prove” in Budapest…”
Don’t be afraid Adam. Kamminga will beat you twice this year in Budapest and in Rome.
Concerning taper, well he said he wasn’t tapered for last year’s trials as well and went 57.3 ,which was the same time he did at the OGs tapered. 🤣🤣
Some swimmers love to troll the fans and their competition about their taper status.
Reminds me of Titmus and her “3 days rest” before trials last year.
Counter-point, he said he wasn’t tapering at 2016 trials and went 58.4, then 58.3 a month later at Euros, then 57.1 in Rio. He also has no reason to taper right now – He was out of the pool until January, why would he taper unnecessarily in April? I get claiming to be untapered when yoi are is a thing in swimming, but it wouldn’t make much sense for him to have tapered this week. Same for quite a few of the big name Brits & French.
At that time, he was 21 years old where most male swimmers start to peak and drop time anyway.
He’s 27 now, while Nicolo and MA are 22 and they’re going PBs each year + Kamminga who is a late bloomer.
All in all, the breast sprint events aren’t a 1 horse type races anymore. It’s going to be a dogfight 🐶.
I highly doubt Peaty is fully tapered for this. Only potential threat is Wilby and other than that no Brit is really consistently dipping under a minute.