Adam Peaty said that he will “step away” from swimming in an emotional interview following his final race for Team GB at the 2024 Olympics.
Peaty, a three-time Olympic gold medallist, took fourth in the men’s 4x100m medley relay final alongside Duncan Scott, Ollie Morgan and Matt Richards and admitted that at the very least he will be taking a break from the sport, fueling speculation that he may call it a day on his illustrious career.
“I think tomorrow is never promised,” Peaty told the BBC. “Why worry? I think if my heart wants it, my heart wants it and I will absolutely sign that contract with myself to do it. But that may be a long way away.
“But I think I am going to step away from the sport. Really because it just hurt too much this time. It really has.”
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Should Peaty, upon reflection, decide to continue his career in the pool he would have to do so without long-standing coach Mel Marshall. She is relocating to Australia and the man she has worked alongside for two decades wished her nothing but success down under.
“Tonight it could have been emotional,” Peaty explained. “In terms of it’s her last one with me in that sense and it could have been my last one with her. I don’t know. For her, I think she has got an incredible future ahead of her and the right talent that is hopefully going to head her way in Australia, she deserves it, she deserves to lead that programme.
“I am going to visit her in January, take a month off from everything, but I don’t know what the answer is (to Peaty’s future). My family needs me. You can’t lie to your heart and if your heart doesn’t want it, the heart doesn’t want it. But we will see. I am going to enjoy today instead of worrying about tomorrow.”
Peaty described this as the “worst week of my life” after dealing with illness in the build-up to the relay. He was forced to pull out of the mixed race after contracting COVID at the Olympic village, unable to add to the silver medal he won earlier in the competition.
“It’s been a rough, rough week but hopefully we’ll find our way through the next 36 hours,” said Peaty yesterday. “(It’s) probably (been) the worst week of my life in terms of how my body is – and that is no exaggeration.
“Everything’s come at once and since Covid, I’ve been waking up every day with a different thing. The medical team has been brilliant and it’s just a victory getting on that starting block. Now hopefully, that will give my body a nice, little push for tomorrow.”
Peaty finished second in the 100m breaststroke behind home favourite Leon Marchand, before he and Team GB were pipped by China, USA and France as a stunning finish from Pan Zhanle saw China claim gold with a time of 3:27.46. It was the first time in the event’s history that the American team had been defeated.
