Peaty’s Project shocks world
ADAM PEATY said he would try to ‘stay neutral’ after the brilliant Briton twice smashed his own 50metres breaststroke world record in the space of 10 hours.
But the 12,000 packed inside the Duna Arena here expect him to set a third successive worldleading mark today after he became the first man to beat the 26-second mark in the 50m.
The 22-year-old, right, could not quite believe it himself. He smiled and shook his head from the moment he turned to see 25.95secs and ‘WR’ emblazoned across the scoreboard in the World Championships after setting the new mark of 26.10 in the heats.
For once in his training plan, he and coach Mel Marshall had got it wrong. After returning from Rio, the mission was about ‘Project 56’ and breaking the 57-second barrier in his favoured 100m.
Peaty said: “I’ve just gone along with ‘Project 56’. I was like, ‘Yeah, go on then’. This morning everyone was like, ‘Project 25’ and I was like, ‘Go on then’. I just dived in tonight and it was like, ‘I feel good’.
“I was on such a massive high from the morning. It was hard to ignore the fact I did a world record and get myself emotionally ready, but I’ve learnt from experience over the last years. I’m going to be focusing now, staying neutral and see what we get tomorrow”
However, most of the swimming world now know neutral is hardly
the word anyone would use to describe the way Peaty tears up and down a swimming pool.
But it is the coachpupil relationship which will decide how best to lay out the road to Tokyo 2020 after this record onslaught.
Marshall calls Peaty a “warrior”. The fact that the former swimmer was once ranked world No1 in freestyle but never managed to win an Olympic medal is another factor in her bid to mould a sporting great.
Peaty, meanwhile, sees Marshall as his best friend and mentor. He has absolute faith in the highly regarded coach, despite the 5am morning sessions in the pool at the National Centre in Loughborough.
Not to mention the weekly training regime, which sees the 6ft 3in star flipping tractor tyres, pulling parachutes and the odd camp with a former SAS soldier.
If he is not breaking records, he is still creating new milestones. He now has the 11 fastest swims in 100m breaststroke history, while he is beginning to muster the same in the 50m.
Tellingly, it is his technique which is far superior to any of his challengers.
Peaty is more often than not the first into his stroke off the blocks.
H e remains stable in the water – a key cog in breaststroke – while his timing and rock-steady body make for an impeccable rhythm.
From the moment he began lifting titles, at the 2014 European Championships in Berlin when he sat on the lane ropes and flexed his muscles, Peaty has not been beaten.
He claimed Olympic gold in Rio in the 100m breaststroke and his motivation for this Olympic cycle has been aided by a different training programme to “keep things fresh”.
But with world records being broken at two successive worlds, either side of the Olympics, you would think that Peaty’s enjoyment factor might wane. “You don’t want to keep breaking it every year,” he admitted.
GB’s medal haul did not materialise elsewhere last night. Duncan Scott and James Guy were to be denied a podium spot following the team’s euphoric last 24 hours.
Racing alongside each other having qualified one-two, Guy, the 2015 champion, led at the 100m mark as he looked to defend his 200m freestyle title. But he punched the water in disgust after finishing fifth two lengths later, one behind Scott.
Guy, though, still looks in good form with GB going for gold in the relays later this week.