Adam Peaty has revealed that he will ‘step away’ from swimming after he suffered more heartbreak in the men’s 4x100m medley relay.
The 29-year-old, speaking after Team GB finished fourth in the race, explained ‘it hurt too much this time’ just days after he admitted this was the ‘worst week’ of his life after battling Covid.
Peaty and his teammates narrowly missed out on a medal at the Aquatic Centre this evening after being pipped by France to a bronze in the relay.
China scooped gold after a world-record freestyle leg from Pan Zhanle at the end, leaving USA to settle for silver on the final night of swimming at the Paris Olympics.
The British team had started off solidly in the race before Peaty showed his class with a rapid breaststroke leg to take the lead.
Adam Peaty revealed that he will ‘step away’ from swimming after missing out on relay medal
Speaking after Team GB finished in fourth in the race, he said ‘it just hurt too much this time’
After a solid start for Team GB, Peaty showed his class with a rapid breaststroke leg
Over the course of the final two legs, Team GB dropped off the pace and in particular butterfly swimmer Duncan Scott was not able to stay in touch with French rival Maxime Grousset.
Great Britain were not represented in the women’s medley relay final, the last race at the aquatic centre, so ended the Games with one gold and four silvers in the arena.
Team USA dominated in the pool once again with 28 medals, including eight golds, while Australia nabbed 18 medals, including seven golds.
After his final race of the Olympics, the legendary swimmer was asked by the BBC about his future: ‘Tomorrow’s never promised so why worry?
‘If my heart wants it my heart wants it and I’ll absolutely sign that contract with myself to do it – but that may be a long way away.
‘But I think I’ve got to step away from the sport really because it’s just hurt too much this time – it really has.’
Peaty was also quizzed about the departure of Mel Marshall – who has coached the swimmer for 17 years – to Australia.
He said: ‘Tonight it could have been emotional. It was her [Marshall] last one with me I think in that sense. It could have been my last one here – I don’t know.
‘I think she’s got an incredible future ahead of her and the right talent that’s hopefully going to head her way in Australia.
Peaty and Team GB narrowly missed out on a medal after being pipped by France for bronze
China scooped gold after a world-record freestyle leg from Pan Zhanle at the end
This left USA to settle for silver on the final night of swimming at the Paris Olympics
‘You can’t swim bad in Southport. It’s just an incredible pool and she deserves it. She deserves to lead that programme. She deserves to give the best to them.
‘I’m going to visit her in January and take a month off from everything but I don’t really know what the answer is
‘If my family needs me, my family needs me. If my heart does want it, it wants it but I’m going to enjoy today instead of worrying about tomorrow.’
Today’s near-miss came amid a tournament of disappointments for the Team GB star, including, most recently, his omission from the mixed medley relay team.
The 29-year-old admitted that he had been struggling physically after testing positive for Covid-19 on Monday.
Former Team GB swimmer Mark Foster said on BBC Sport: ‘I can only guess [Adam Peaty’s non-selection] that’s down to the fact that after a couple of days of Covid he’s not felt that up to it. He is the best in the breaststroke.’
Peaty struggled with a sore throat before he won silver in the men’s 100 metres breaststroke final last weekend after narrowly missing out by 0.02 seconds to Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi.
As well as testing positive for Covid, he has also struggled with an ear infection.
He said: ‘(It’s) probably (been) the worst week of my life in terms of how my body is – and that is no exaggeration.
Peaty chats with US swimmer Caeleb Dressel today after what might be his last race for Team GB
Peaty struggled with a sore throat before he won silver in the men’s 100 metres breaststroke
As well as testing positive for Covid, he has also struggled with an ear infection
‘Everything’s come at once and since Covid, I’ve been waking up every day with a different thing.
‘It’s been a rough, rough week but hopefully we’ll find our way through the next 36 hours.
‘The medical team has been brilliant and it’s just a victory getting on that starting block. Now hopefully, that will give my body a nice, little push for tomorrow.’
