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Adam Peaty cried “happy tears” as he settled for silver in the men’s 100 metres breaststroke final to keep Team GB waiting for their first gold medal of the Paris Olympics.
For so long, Peaty has been his country’s banker and a place in the record books alongside Michael Phelps as the only male swimmers to win Olympic gold in the same event at three successive Games beckoned in the French capital.
But Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi claimed an upset for the ages, denying Peaty a ‘three-peat’ by 0.02 seconds, with the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 champion finishing in a tie for second alongside America’s Nic Fink.
Peaty was emotional in the aftermath as he reflected on a difficult time in and out of the pool since winning in Japan in 2021 as he struggled with his mental health and took a break from competing last year due to burnout.
“It’s not sad at all,” he said. “These are happy tears. If you’re willing to put yourself on the line every single time, I think there’s no such thing as a loss. I’m so happy the right man won.
“I’m not defining myself by a medal. I define myself by my heart and what it has made me feel and produce. It’s got the best out of me.
“It’s broken me, this sport, but it’s also given me life, it’s given me everything I am and I am happy to stand here with not really any answers to what that performance is but a happy heart and that is all that matters.”
Peaty, who was given his medal by the Princess Royal, revealed he woke up on the morning of Sunday’s showpiece with a sore throat and admitted not being at 100 per cent could have been costly.
“I’ve had a bit of a curveball with my throat but, please, it’s no excuse at all,” he said. “But it’s a curveball I’ve had to respond to.
“You can train eight years for something and not feel 100 per cent on the day and (not being) 100 per cent costs you 0.02 seconds, that’s just the way it is.”
Qin Haiyang was thought to be Peaty’s main rival but the Chinese finished seventh.
The pair’s battle was likened to Usain Bolt v Justin Gatlin from Rio 2016 given Qin was one of 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned substance prior to the Tokyo Olympics three years ago but was cleared to compete after authorities deemed accidental consumption was to blame.
While Peaty was faster in the semi-finals, Qin hit the front in Sunday’s showpiece and led at halfway but the Briton reeled him in and seemed to be in charge only to be pipped at the last by Martinenghi.
It’s broken me, this sport, but it’s also given me life, it’s given me everything I am— Adam Peaty
“I’m so happy to pass the baton to Nicolo because I’ve been racing him for so long,” Peaty said. “All I could see in my eyes were Qin and Arno (Kamminga, the Tokyo 2020 silver medallist).
“They are two of the best executors in that final, but that’s just sport. I got a little bit blindsided, I touched the wall and I truly believed I got it but it wasn’t meant to be.”
As Peaty now looks ahead to his two relay events, the 29-year-old sees the bigger picture as he was consoled in the immediate aftermath of his first individual Olympic loss by young son George.
“He normally goes ‘Daddy, are you the fastest boy?’ and I’d have said ‘Not today’ but he just said ‘I love you, daddy’ and that’s all I care about,” Peaty added.
“I was not feeling 100 per cent but I don’t really care. I’ve raced people who weren’t 100 per cent, I’ve won against people who weren’t 100 per cent and today was my turn. I really feel this moment was meant to be.”
After his stunning win, Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Martinenghi said: “Becoming Olympic champion is a dream come true, next to Adam, who is one of my idols. I grew (up) with Adam.
“In front of my girlfriend, my family, my friends, my team-mates, that’s insane.”
