Adam Ramsay-Peaty has admitted that he struggled with burnout and a broken foot over the last four years, as well as hinting at the much-publicised estrangement with his family, after finishing third in the 100m breaststroke at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The 31-year-old also conceded that his plan to end his career at the LA Olympics will be “the hardest climb I have ever faced”.
Emotional reaction and poor performance
Ramsay-Peaty burst into tears after winning the 100m bronze medal on Saturday night. Even after a good night’s sleep, he was unable to explain why he was so emotional or why he swam so poorly. “I don’t really know what went wrong in that race,” he said. “The heats, the semi-finals and the final haven’t really felt super strong, to be honest. In the final, I just felt really weak, so I don’t really know.”
His time of 59.65 seconds was nearly three seconds behind his world record and slower than he swam at the British trials in the spring. “I work a lot harder than a 59.6, really. It’s not a good time — we know that,” he said. “When your world record is three seconds away, we’ve got to seriously ask what’s going wrong because that’s not me.”
Personal and professional challenges
Ramsay-Peaty spoke about “all the shit I have been through” to get ready for the Commonwealth Games, including early morning starts, missing family gatherings, and abuse on social media. He also took aim at elements of the traditional media who have focused on his pregnant wife, Holly, and his estrangement with his mother. “That hasn’t played a part in the sense of what I’ve experienced, because I’m still happy with that result in some sense, but it has to stop,” he said. “How many athletes, how many people, have to go through this until the media learn their lesson? You have to learn and do better.”
Despite his struggles, he said he is committed to aiming for the 2028 Olympics. “Coming back to where I am now and making the decision to go for LA, I think this is going to be the hardest climb I’ve ever faced and the hardest test,” he said. “It’s really hard to see the summit because it’s so hard. I don’t think anyone understands.”
End of a golden era?
Peaty has stood on the top of the podium 32 times in global championships, but he has not won a gold medal since the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. That record extended on Saturday evening when he took bronze behind Australia’s Sam Williamson (59.37) and 18-year-old Filip Nowicki from Jersey.
