The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Peaty aims to redeem himself after Games
Defending champion is keen to impress at Glasgow competition
Adam Peaty is targeting redemption in the European Championships after a disappointing time in the Commonwealth Games.
The Olympic gold medallist struggled to reach his own lofty standards on the Gold Coast as he was pipped to the 50 metre breaststroke title and did not show his best in the 100m.
Peaty is undefeated in the 100m for four years but a time of 58.84 seconds left him disappointed and well short of his own world record.
It is something he is determined to put right in Glasgow to prove he is still at the peak of his powers.
“Having a European games medal would be very nice, maybe a few of them,” he told Press Association Sport.
“But for me, it’s a redemption to myself, to see if I can perform post-Commonwealths.
“It is only two years to go until Tokyo and that is always the end goal, that’s what will always come first.
“It is about seeing where the energy is at, what do I need to change two years out and then a year out is go time.”
On his defeat in Australia, where Cameron van der Burgh was the man to pinch gold, the Uttoxeter swimmer said: “When you take your first loss in four years it is always going to hurt, but that is sport and how you come back from that and how you adapt from that, it changes perspective on the whole sport.
“Losing isn’t actually as bad as you may have thought. That’s why we do it.
“I would rather go through the rest of my career with a few defeats and pushing the edges of what I can do than go through my whole career successful, because I won’t be pushing the edges of what the human body can do.”
Peaty is confident he has enough to see off the competition at Tollcross, which gets under way today.
Although he is keen to emphasise that his sights are well set on the Olympics in Tokyo in 2020, he is ready to put on a good show in Glasgow.
“This is the championships where it is competitive but not too difficult, which is a good combination because it keeps you on your toes but at the same time you know you will swim fast,” he said.
“There is no pressure from me; I am the defending European champion but I am pretty sure on my worst day I can drag out something good.
“I would love to get near my world records but that’s the mistake I made during the Commonwealths; I was too focused on that, but I just want a good process.”