Peaty in tears after missing out on gold again

Adam Peaty's emotional display after securing 100m breaststroke bronze at the Commonwealth Games highlighted the immense pressure and personal cost of elite swimming. Tears flowed again for the Englishman, echoing his disappointment from the Paris Olympics, as he admitted the intense training now "hurts too much."

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I work a lot harder than what it says on the scoreboard.

Despite an unparalleled record of three Olympic golds and eight world titles, Peaty finds himself searching for his former dominance after a break in 2023 to address mental health issues. He was out-touched for gold in Paris and again in Glasgow, this time by Australian Sam Williamson and Jersey's Filip Nowacki, an 18-year-old he has mentored.

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It hurts too much. I have got to approach training differently now because it hurts too much.

"I just think I deserve more. I know sport isn't about what you deserve or even what you work for - it's who gets it on the day," Peaty stated, his voice thick with emotion. He acknowledged the difficult choices elite athletes make, including time away from family, but insisted his current performance did not reflect his capabilities. "I just know I'm a better athlete than that. It's very disappointing."

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It took a lot of courage to get back into the sport, so we should be happy with everything we get, but then that contradicts the athlete inside me and what I work for.

This Commonwealth Games bronze may well be his last, and Peaty is contemplating a shift in focus towards the 50m breaststroke for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The shorter race, he believes, would be less physically demanding and potentially a more realistic path to further success. "Is the 100 even viable any more? I don't know," he mused, adding, "With the Olympics, that's probably going to be more realistic, but it's too early to tell."

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I just think I deserve more. I know sport isn't about what you deserve or even what you work for - it's who gets it on the day.