English swimming star Adam Peaty faced the wrath of BBC viewers labelling him ‘arrogant’ and ‘disrespectful after he downplayed the importance of the Commonwealth Games in a post-race interview.
The multiple Olympic champion was upset on Sunday night as compatriot James Wilby took gold in the final of the 100m breaststroke while Peaty - who was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing after his Tokyo heroics - could only finish fourth. Peaty was forced to rehabilitate a broken foot injury in the build-up to the Games and lamented ‘a bad day at the office’.
Regardless, the 27-year-old returned to the pool on Monday evening as he took part in the semi-finals of the 50m breaststroke. Peaty brushed off suggestions by the BBC commentary team that he ‘looked a bit tight’ to win the heat.
Peaty was then interviewed poolside by Sharron Davies. Affer complaining about being held for too long on the blocks at the start of the race, said it was a case of ‘job done, back to bed’, adding: “It doesn't feel amazing, but it doesn't feel bad either.”
Davies was notably taken aback by Peaty’s approach and tried to usher him into a respectable answer as she suggested he will want to win as ‘it’s the one you missed out on’. However, Peaty’s comment once again suggested he thinks little of the Commonwealth Games.
“It'll probably be my last attempt tomorrow, but I'm not bothered about it,” Peaty said. “The Commonwealths to me, in the grand scheme of things...it's about two years time (the Olympics).
“That's no disrespect. I'm still four weeks into my programme, I can't put that expectation on myself.”
Do you think Adam Peaty's comments were disrespectful? Let us know in the comments section.
As the BBC broadcast returned to the studio, presenter Clare Balding asked former swimming world champion Mark Foster about Peaty’s comments and the 52-year-old was surprised. Foster added: “I think he's trying to say it doesn't matter.
“It does matter, it's the Commonwealth Games, it's a multi-sport event and I think when he was growing up, the Commonwealth Games would have been a big deal. But the fact that he's won lots of Worlds and Olympic Games, maybe he's trying to play it down to himself that it doesn't matter.”
Foster thought Peaty’s comments were ‘disrespectful’ as he gave them while Wilby - the 100m breaststroke Commonwealth champion - was stood next to him. It appears many fans at home shared the same sentiment, with one fan taking to Twitter to write: “Adam peaty is disrespectful to every other athlete at the Commonwealth Games, acting like he doesn’t care while all the other athletes are trying they best to win medals.”
Another posted: “Adam Peaty just did one of the worst interviews I’ve seen by a sportsperson. Dissing the #CommonwealthGames and his fellow athletes. What a a**hole.”
