Peaty not about to skip next challenge
EXCLUSIVE
NOT long after returning home from winning Team GB’s first Olympic gold of the Rio Games, Adam Peaty acquired a tattoo of a lion on his shoulder.
Nearly one year on from his brilliant breaststroke exploits, the primal instincts inside Peaty are again stirring as he prepares for the defence of his 50m and 100m titles at the World Championships in Hungary this week.
Next Sunday Peaty, who is unbeaten in more than three years over both the one and two-length dash, will thud his chest on the blocks and likely roar to yet more golden bounty in Budapest.
It is understandable, then, that he expresses surprise that some question why he carries on swimming.
The 22-year-old said: “I’m so young, so yes it has been weird when people ask whether I might retire now I’ve won Olympic gold. But this is where you get the ball rolling.”
That is not what his rivals want to hear. Such has been his monopoly since 2014 that Peaty has noticed even more cameras videoing his every move in the pool this year.
“You can tell they’re wanting to learn from me,” he said. “When you go to a professional meet there are cameras set up and they’ll be looking at what I do at the start and end of my kick, and what’s the stroke that’s different from theirs.
“But I’ve always said a copy is not as good as the genuine product.”
The real deal is how he is viewed in Japan, where Peaty will aim to become the first British swimmer to defend his Olympic title in 2020.
“I want that for my country,” he said.
As a budding breaststroker, Peaty took the time to learn from his heroes such as Japan great Kosuke Kitajima.
“I was obsessed by watching videos of other swimmers’ techniques and how they trained,” he said. “It taught me a lot and the best way to learn is visually.
“I took so much away from motivational videos but I don’t need to watch them any more. I know what I want.”
That includes dipping under 57 seconds for the first time in the 100m and adding the 200m to his Olympic assault, which could start at next year’s Commonwealth Games.
He did take a time out from his regime following Rio with a trip to Los Angeles, where he put on 10kg through a diet of fast food. But since New Year’s Day, Peaty has been based in Loughborough with long-term coach Mel Marshall.
The monotony has been interspersed with training trips to Dubai, Tenerife and Thailand, which has included resistance work such as pulling parachutes.
The world No1 said: “It has given me so much confidence. I knew what I wanted going to Thailand and there’s nothing like training under the sun. When you’re so tired of the treadmill of training, life, 5am starts and grey clouds, the warm weather really helps.”
He likes to indulge with a drive in his powerful Mercedes but added: “I’ve got the right friends and family and as long as they keep me on the straight and narrow, you can achieve anything.”
Adam Peaty is working with Sun-Pat Peanut Butter to help get kids active. To win a sports pack this summer, go to sunpat.co.uk/fuellingfamilies