Adam Peaty became emotional after winning a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games, admitting that personal struggles have taken a toll on his performance.
"It's hard because I know how hard I've worked. I know the s**t I've been through, which is no fault of my own. It does take a toll," Peaty said, his voice trembling as he reflected on his third-place finish.
Peaty, the dominant force in breaststroke for years, finished significantly behind his world record time. Australian Sam Williamson secured the gold medal, and 18-year-old Filip Nowacki of Jersey took silver.
"I'm not crying because it's a bronze instead of a gold," Peaty explained. "I'm crying because I know that swim could have been better. I don't really know what went wrong in these last two weeks but something isn't hitting right, whether it's pace or focus."
He described the grueling training regimen, including early mornings and daily yardage, and the sacrifices made, such as missing family events. "It's because you want excellence and that isn't excellence for me," he stated.
The swimmer alluded to unspecified family issues and social media abuse as contributing factors. "People who comment and read headlines have got to look themselves in the mirror. Ignoring that comes at a cost," he said, adding that he doesn't want younger swimmers to experience similar pressures.
Peaty, who married Holly Ramsay, daughter of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, in December, spoke about how family life has shifted his priorities. "As a father, it doesn't matter if you come home with the gold, as long as you come home with the teddy, which I did. That's what matters," he said, kissing his pregnant wife's stomach. The couple is expecting a daughter in December.
Despite his current struggles, Peaty acknowledged the talent of his younger competitor, Nowacki. "He's got a very bright future ahead of him," Peaty said. "He's my favourite for the 200m. He's definitely got the speed and he's about 25kgs less!"
Peaty has signed Nowacki to his agency and plans to mentor the emerging swimmer. "If I compare myself to 2014, 12 years ago, it's very exciting where Filip and his career can go," Peaty remarked. "It's sport, it's beautiful, but f**k me, it can hurt."