Peaty primed for last shot at setting a landmark time
➤ Briton determined to break his own world record yet again ➤ Coach says focus may switch to gold medals at next Games
Adam Peaty’s coach, Mel Marshall, has admitted that the next 48 hours might provide the last chance for the swimmer to beat the 100metres breaststroke world record for the sixth time and set a landmark time that could last for generations.
After becoming the first swimmer under 58, and then 57, seconds in the event, Peaty begins his quest to become Britain’s first back-to-back Olympic aquatic champion this lunchtime, ahead of a scheduled semi-final tomorrow and the final on Monday.
At 26, there is an acceptance in the Peaty camp that this may be the physical peak of his career and thought has already been given to the possibility of gradually managing his athletic decline – while still winning golds – through to Paris in 2024 and Los Angeles in 2028.
“He’s aware that this may be the last one – not Olympics, but maybe the last chance to go quicker,” Marshall said. “Now it is about every single detail and making sure all these details are in line to get another improvement.
“He can go faster. This would be a perfect end to the second chapter. He ended that first chapter in Rio.”
Peaty has set 13 world records in different events, peaking with his 56.88sec swim over 100m in 2019, but there is a belief that dipping inside 56.5 remains possible. Only one other swimmer has ever gone inside 58 seconds. “I think a world record is, at this stage, very hard, but never impossible.” he said.
“I have that history of performing when it matters, and going into these Games I am the most liberated I have been. Sometimes the greats do fall but I believe that this Olympics is not my time yet and I think it’s going to be a good one.”
Of the future, Peaty believes that he will know when he has reached his peak and that will bring an adjustment in his approach.
“We’ll have to switch the training because we are no longer looking to go faster but we are looking to win,” he said.
“You see some go to 34 or 35 – but I won’t be going on if I can’t win. If I see a path to win, that’s me. If it’s silver, no. I want to push the boundaries of what is possible.”