Adam Ramsay-Peaty, the three-time Olympic champion, has expressed his frustration after securing two bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. After finishing third in the 100m breaststroke on Saturday, Ramsay-Peaty, 31, again took bronze in the 50m breaststroke. He was unable to match the pace of Australia’s Sam Williamson, who claimed his second gold medal of the competition.
Ramsay-Peaty, who was visibly emotional after his 100m race, appeared less so after the 50m event but remained uncertain about his recent performances. He stated that he is working hard and needs to reassess his approach, noting that his current results do not reflect the effort he is putting in. He described the situation as “sailing in some rough seas” and not sustainable, though he also mentioned having overcome worse challenges in the past.
Reflecting on performance and changes
Ramsay-Peaty, widely regarded as a dominant breaststroker, held an eight-year unbeaten streak in the 100m event and holds world records in both the 100m and 50m distances. He was the defending Commonwealth champion in the 50m breaststroke and continued his career after the event was added to the 2028 Olympic schedule.
Following his 50m race, Ramsay-Peaty finished in 26.94 seconds, 0.44 seconds behind Williamson. He expressed disappointment with his time, acknowledging that “times equal medals.” He felt he could have been quicker and indicated a need to understand why his performance is not aligning with his expectations, stating that “nothing makes sense this week.”
His previous successes were largely achieved under the guidance of coach Mel Marshall, who moved to Australia in 2024. After the Paris 2024 Olympics, Ramsay-Peaty initially trained at Repton in Derbyshire before moving back to London to train under Lisa Bates. He expressed satisfaction with his current training environment, emphasising the hard work involved and the need for it to be directed effectively. He noted that significant improvements take time, often around two years, and require continued investment.
Ramsay-Peaty also reflected on a shift in his priorities, explaining that during his undefeated period, he was “athlete first, then human.” Now, he views himself as “human first, then athlete,” a change he considers a “very fair price to pay.” He suggested his “superpower” has evolved, now involving juggling family life, which he sees as a different kind of strength. Despite this, he affirmed his commitment as a professional athlete and his competitive mentality, noting that his approach has had to adapt.
He admitted to frustration with his recent performances, particularly as training data throughout the season has shown an upward trend. He struggles to pinpoint why he has lost power per stroke and feels something is “not clicking.” However, he also highlighted that securing two bronze medals in his first championship since Paris is a form of success, especially with relays still to come. He stated he would not be too hard on himself and aims to maintain perspective.
Other notable performances
In other swimming events at the Commonwealth Games, England’s Brock Whiston won gold in the women’s 200m breaststroke SB8 final. Her 15-year-old team-mate, Iona Winnifrith, secured a bronze medal in the same event. Amalie Smith, 16, earned a silver medal in the women’s 200m individual medley final. Additionally, the England quartet of Freya Colbert, Abbie Wood, Leah Schlosshan, and Freya Anderson claimed silver in the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay.
In the same 50m breaststroke final where Ramsay-Peaty won bronze, Sam Williamson of Australia took gold in 26.50 seconds, and South Africa’s Michael Houlie secured silver in 26.77 seconds. Ramsay-Peaty’s bronze medal finish was just 0.01 seconds ahead of Chris Smith of South Africa.
A notable moment during the competition involved Scotland’s Archie Goodburn, who received a significant ovation despite finishing tied last in the 50m breaststroke race. Goodburn, 25, was competing two years after being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, specifically oligodendrogliomas, which accounts for approximately 3% of all primary brain tumours. He has made it his mission to raise awareness about his condition and has been using Vorasidenib, a new treatment designed to slow the spread of cancer, which has delayed the need for chemotherapy.
Goodburn expressed profound gratitude for the support he has received from friends, family, and the University of Edinburgh, reflecting on his journey from a “dark spot” 12 months prior. He advocates for future patients and young individuals under 40 with brain cancer, highlighting that brain cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths for this age group in the UK.
Ramsay-Peaty’s bronze medal in the 50m breaststroke marks his second bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Source: bbc.co.uk
As NewsGB.org's Sports News Writer, Theo Marsden reports on rugby union, golf and boxing for readers across the country. He began on a regional sports desk in Yorkshire. He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Hull and completed an NCTJ diploma. Theo lives in Hull, where he follows the European Tour and amateur rugby. “Sport moves fast; readers deserve it right the first time.”