LONDON – Olympic champion Adam Peaty booked his ticket for the Paris Games on April 2 and put his rivals on notice by winning the 100 metres breaststroke at the British swimming championships in 57.94sec, the fastest time in 2024.
The world-record holder had set a time of 58.53, 2024’s best until the evening final, in the heats at the London Aquatics Centre.
It was the 29-year-old’s fastest time since winning gold at the Tokyo Games in 2021.
Peaty was unbeaten in the event for eight years between 2014 and 2022.
But he could only finish fourth at the 2022 Commonwealth Games after breaking his foot and stepped away from the sport for much of 2023 to prioritise his mental health.
The Briton had to settle for bronze at the world championships in Qatar in February, with American Nic Fink winning in 58.57. Peaty’s world record, set in Gwangju in 2019, stands at 56.88.
The selection time for Paris was set at 59.45, with second-placed James Wilby finishing in 59.47.
“There’s still a lot to come there,” Peaty told the BBC. “This morning, I was like, I’m actually so grateful for coming back here, and I didn’t give up... we’re coming back and I’m happy with that.
“I woke up today and, it was like, I’m blessed, I’m healthy, I’ve got good talent and I just want to race the best in the world.
“That’s a good job to have. You’ve got to put it in perspective.”
He added: “I’m not fully back, I’ve still got a second! It’s always going to be my mindset, but I’ve got a healthy approach to it.
“A few years ago, I’d have come out of there disappointed, I’ve come out with a 57 and been disappointed, I’ve come out with a 59 and been quite disappointed.”
Peaty has been open about depression and drinking problems in the past and missed the 2023 world championships in Fukuoka while taking time out from competition for mental health reasons.
He said after his race: “I’m finding a new version of myself which I’m really liking.
“And I think that’s a version that can do really well at the Olympics. I felt so light in the water.
“This is a real win for my team, my family and myself.
“We have come through the past three years of hell.
“I didn’t want to see a pool again. The sport had broken me.”
Peaty returned with modest results at a trio of World Cup events last October as he started to build up towards Paris, where he will chase an unprecedented third successive 100m breaststroke title.
China’s Qin Haiyang won the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke titles in Fukuoka last July and despite skipping Doha, has emerged as a favourite for Paris.
He swam the 100m in 57.69 in Japan and also at a World Cup meeting in Berlin in October, the fastest time ever by anyone other than Peaty. REUTERS, AFP
