'Don't give up' - why Peaty was convinced to go again
Adam Peaty was not immediately convinced he would return to competitive swimming after his emotional, gut-wrenching week at the Paris Olympics last summer.A landmark change to the sport's schedule - one that significantly boosts the 30-year-old's chance of further success going forward - was not all that was needed to seal the deal."If I retired post-Paris on something I deeply wasn't happy with - what message does that send to my children?," Peaty tells BBC Sport. "I want them to not give up when it does get tough. I want them to dig down, dig deep and find another way through that problem."
The problem to which Peaty refers was his quest for a third consecutive Olympic 100m breaststroke gold last July. He had to settle for silver by an agonising 0.02 seconds, having contracted Covid-19 earlier in the week. He was in tears afterwards and again soon after when holding his three-year-old son, George."I got ill on the day you are most healthy," says Peaty, who also won relay gold in Tokyo in 2021."I have got to laugh about it because it is one of those incredibly painful moments but I don't see it is one of those things I am always going to look back on and say 'what a horrible moment'. "It has taught me so much about myself, about my future and where I want to apply that experience to my potential next Olympic Games. "It is just life. It will be tough sometimes and will be easy sometimes too."Peaty's first two Olympic golds - in Rio de Janeiro and then Tokyo - came during his period of dominance. The third individual medal, not quite the colour he wanted, followed his time out of the sport after issues with alcohol and his mental health.Since then Peaty's long-time coach Mel Marshall has left for a job in Australia, leading plenty to believe he would walk away from the sport, but the Englishman committed to another Olympic cycle last week after the 50m breaststroke races were added to the schedule for the Los Angeles Games in 2028."I watched the press conference and thought 'this is going to change the sport for everyone'," Peaty says."Swimming is one of those sports where it is incredibly demanding. "You are doing 4,000 to 5,000m in the morning, doing a whole day of work or school then 4,000m at night. "Sprinting is a little bit different because you don't have to commit to the metres as much."You still have to put the time in, it is going to be difficult like anything, but it is going to give longevity to those athletes that have been doing that for a long time, are getting tired of the sport and can train a bit differently."The British swimming championships began on Tuesday but Peaty will not defend his title. He is making a careful return to the sport after a break post-Paris with LA the ultimate goal, by which time his son will be eight."He is going to fully appreciate what it is like to be at an Olympic Games," Peaty says. "That is the journey we are on. "It is no longer a selfless decision it is a family and broader decision."I race fastest when I am happiest. You have got to get results, most of the time you will not be happy but at least there is a balance there. "That is something I learned from my previous cycle into Paris."
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3 hours ago
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'I'm looking forward to being a part of it and continuing to build towards the new campaign – the atmosphere that the Warrior Nation created in the win over the Stormers a couple of weeks ago shows the passion with which this club is held by everyone connected with Glasgow Warriors.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Forrest knows Warriors well A former Scotland 7s captain, Rutherglen-born Forrest officially joins the club's coaching team after being involved with the Glasgow Warriors academy during the 2024/25 campaign, working alongside Shade Munro. The 40-year-old served as head coach for Great Britain's women's 7s squad at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, having previously held the same position for the Scotland Women's 7s squad. Forrest will join pre-season preparations at Scotstoun following the conclusion of the World Rugby Under-20 Championship, where he will be serving as one of Scotland U-20's assistant coaches under Kenny Murray. 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'I've always tried to give players the autonomy to make decisions as ultimately they are the ones that have to perform in high pressure situations. I'd say that I have a positive approach whilst always working to instil the standards required to perform at the highest level. 'I know Roddy well from our times playing for Scotland 7s together, and I've seen him go on to develop into a top-class coach. It'll be great to work alongside him once again and I'm confident we both have a lot to contribute to the environment at the Warriors.' Grant aware of Glasgow's potential Former Edinburgh Rugby flanker Grant will join Glasgow Warriors following the conclusion of his current role as assistant coach of Georgia, with whom he will work ahead of their matches with Emerging Ireland and South Africa next month. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Born in Botswana, the 38-year-old was a firm fan favourite over a six-year spell with Edinburgh, for whom he amassed 138 appearances in the back-row, as well as in a Scotland 7s career that saw him represent his country at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. 'I've had so much respect for Glasgow over the last two decades of being involved in the BKT URC – Franco [Smith] is such an impressive coach, and such an impressive person,' said Grant. 'The opportunity to come into such a successful environment and such a top-level culture was one I jumped at, and I'm looking forward to being able to contribute to that environment. 'It's a really exciting group here. Having coached against Franco for a number of years, I can't wait to work alongside him. I'm a huge admirer of Nigel's work as well, he's been hugely successful wherever he's been. To have the chance to work with Scott, too, is a special opportunity. We've known each other since 2006, so to be able to coach alongside each other is an exciting prospect. 'I like to believe that I treat people how I'd like to be treated, both on and off the field. I appreciate technique, and the art and science behind everything we do. The great thing about pro sport is that you're around incredible people, and I hope to make those strong connections with everyone here at Scotstoun.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Al Dickinson will also continue in his role as consultant Scrum Coach, with Munro working with the club's academy prospects. On the coaching appointments, Smith said: 'We are pleased to be able to confirm our coaching group as we turn our attention towards the new season. 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