Adam Peaty reveals ‘curveball’ that hit him hours before winning Paris Olympics silver medal

Mixed 4x100m medley relay

• Heats – Friday, August 2 – 10am
• Final – Saturday, August 3 – 8:33pm

Men’s 4x100m medley relay

• Heats – Saturday, August 3 – 10am
• Final – Sunday, August 4 – 6:12pm

HE WENT out slugging, giving it his all, not backing down.

A performance dragged from deep within, mining every part of his competitive desire.

At Paris La Defense Arena, Adam Peaty made sure he beat the man he expected to have to beat in the 100 metres breaststroke if he was to make ­Olympic history.

Yet instead of gold this time, it was ­silver. And a shared silver at that. Beaten, not by China’s Qin ­Haiyang, the swimmer who should NEVER have been allowed to take part in the race.

But beaten from way out wide in lane seven, by Italy’s Nicolo ­Martinenghi, whose name had rarely even been in the conversation about potential winners.

It was not really being mentioned until the final strokes of last night’s race, either. Peaty, sporting a cross and motto “Into the light” tattoo on his midriff, was slightly slow off the blocks and trailed Qin by 0.05 seconds at the turn.

But as he powered through in lane four, too strong for the Chinese, it seemed we were about to witness something truly special, one of the great comeback stories.

With ten metres to go, it was surely Peaty’s race. With five, four, three.
Not two metres or one, though, Martinenghi stealing the glory and the gold.

Martinenghi’s time of 59.03 was modest, more than two seconds slower than Peaty’s 2019 world record, slower than both the Brit and Qin had recorded in the semis on Saturday.

But none of that mattered. It is about the finishing place. For once, in that moment of greatest need, 29-year-old Peaty was found wanting.

Then again, given all that has happened to him in and out of the pool over the past 18 months, none of us should really have been surprised.

After all, when Peaty conquered the world in front of those banks of empty seats at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, it was just business as usual.

He stood then as the dominant force, unbeaten for seven years.

That was a period he was to stretch by a further 12 months until he was dethroned by England team-mate James Wilby at the Commonwealth Games.

At that point he had posted the 18 ­fastest times in history.

But since then, Peaty has gone through injury, alcoholism, depression and the break-up of his long-term relationship with Eiri Munro, mum of his son George.

It made him look vulnerable, beatable, human. All too beatable, as it turned out — although not for the want of trying. At least he did not lose to Qin, one of the 11 members of the Chinese 2024 team who tested positive for banned heart medication TMZ BEFORE the Tokyo Games to have never served a ban for it.

Those claims the extractor fan, spice rack and drains at the kitchen in their hotel was contaminated was beyond risible.

The World Anti-Doping Agency’s acceptance of it remains utterly shameful.

Peaty said last week that he could handle defeat as long as it was a “fair fight”.

He had that all right, as his reaction to the winner — with both still in the pool — made clear.

There was no anger at the loss of his crown. Not publicly anyway, even if there were a few tears.

He said: “I’m so happy that I can race against the best in the world and still come joint-second.

“In my heart I have won, these are happy tears.

“I gave my absolute best every single day and I cannot be upset about that. I gave it my absolute all.

“I executed it as well as I could. It’s not about the end goal, it’s about the process.

“It doesn’t matter what time it says on the scoreboard, I think in my heart I have already won.”

Indeed, just getting into a position where he could try to retain that title was a testament to Peaty’s powers.

As he stood on the podium, receiving his silver medal from the Princess Royal, he bowed and smiled, aware that son George was there to see him.

He gave him a hug of true love soon afterwards, living up to the promise that it would be a victory in itself.

And there was a look of contentment, rather than frustration, as he waited for Martinenghi to ascend to the top platform.

Whether that lasts is open to question. Peaty has always been about winning above all else and the biggest test of all will be how he can handle defeat on the biggest stage.

Paris 2024 is not over for him. He will be a key member of both the 4x100m medley relay and mixed medley relay teams, with the chance to add more medals over the coming days.

Peaty admitted: “I’m almost an older man here now. I can’t have that relentless pursuit every single day without a sacrifice of some sort.

“That sacrifice could come in many ways, in time, in energy, in relationships.

“As an older man now it is difficult to keep up with the younger one.

“But I am so happy with that because I know in my heart I could have done more.

“My mind is on the relays, trying to get the best for the team now, seeing how we come through this.

“This is what the Olympics are about, they are about who can perform at that moment and I was just one per cent, two per cent out.

“That was a victory for me. It’s still six Olympic medals, right?

“I am a religious man and I asked God to show my heart and this is my heart.”

Read more from Martin Lipton here