Peaty: I’ve given my all to sport... I need this break
ADAM PEATY hit back at trolls yesterday as the Olympic double-gold medallist became the latest star to step away from sport for their mental health.
The 26-year-old swimmer spoke out after cricketer Ben Stokes, US gymnast Simone Biles and footballer Tyrone Mings also revealed their struggles.
‘Sport is everything to me – my career and my life,’ said Peaty (pictured), who stormed to victory in the 100m breaststroke and mixed 4x100m medley relay. ‘But you have to be very careful it doesn’t consume you because the s*** will hit the fan.’
Despite his Tokyo heroics, the new dad faced fury over his decision to miss next month’s International Swimming League event in Naples,
Italy. Some fans accused him of being lazy for taking time out.
Peaty hit back: ‘This is why we have such a stigma around mental wellbeing in sport.
‘It isn’t a normal job. There is a huge amount of pressure.
You’re seeing it with Simone Biles. You’re seeing it with Ben Stokes. Mental health matters and it is about getting the balance right at that elite level.’
TV presenter Piers Morgan also piled in following previous attacks on Biles, Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka and teenage Wimbledon debutant Emma Raducanu. ‘As an ENT doctor in LA once told me during a round of golf when I said he had a big pressure putt: “Real pressure is performing emergency tracheotomies on babies”,’ he tweeted.
That prompted Gary Lineker to reply that no sportsperson would compare the jobs ‘but it doesn’t mean they can’t also suffer from depression, anxiety or struggle to handle pressure.’ US swimmer Caeleb Dressel has said he was taking a break due to stress after winning five gold medals.
HARRY KANE was in limbo last night as Tottenham threatened to punish the striker’s apparent attempt to engineer a move to Manchester City by failing to turn up for pre-season training.
The 28-year-old did not report for a planned Covid-19 test following his extended three-week break after helping England reach last month’s final of
Euro 2020. It is a move that has raised the stakes with Kane reportedly desperate to join City in pursuit of trophies, having failed to lift a major team honour despite scoring 222 goals in 336 senior games for Spurs.
Although he still has three years remaining on his contract, Kane believes he has a gentleman’s agreement with chairman Daniel Levy allowing him to leave the club he joined as an 11-year-old.
But while Spurs did not issue a statement, they are understood to be angry with the England captain’s no-show and set to hit him with a significant fine. Spurs have already rejected a £100million bid from City for Kane with the reigning champions indicating they have no intention of meeting the Londoners’ valuation which is closer to £150m.
Although new manager Nuno Espirito Santo has insisted Kane will not be sold, it is thought Spurs would reluctantly accept £100m plus players in part-exchange.
City’s £100m bid for Jack Grealish – who was shown performing stretching exercises by his club Aston Villa on social media yesterday – may have triggered Kane’s determination to push through a move, with a deal for both men considered financially unviable.