Three-time Olympic breaststroke champion Adam Peaty is taking a swimming break for now. The British announced this via social media. He says he has had mental health problems for a while and wants to take a step back to best prepare for next year’s Olympic Games in Paris.
“As some people know, I’ve struggled with my mental health for the past few years and I think it’s important to be honest about it,” Peaty writes. “I’m tired, I’m not myself, and I’m not enjoying the sport I’ve had for the past ten years.”
The 28-year-old British won her first Olympic gold medal in the 100m breaststroke in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Five years later (the games were postponed for a year due to Corona) he expanded that title by defeating the Dutch Arno Kamminga in a direct duel in Tokyo.
He also won the gold medal in the medley medley relay in Tokyo.
In addition to three Olympic titles, Peaty has won eight gold medals at a World Championships in the long track. The year after the Olympic Games in Tokyo, he had to contend with a serious foot injury.
With the announcement, Peaty was automatically eliminated from next week’s British Swimming Championships. It is not yet known when he will resume swimming competitions, but he will continue to practice.
more athletes
Peaty isn’t the only athlete to have hinted that he has mental health issues lately. Before him were former Dutch international Gregory van der Wiel, top gymnast Simone Biles and four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka.
Source: NOS
I’m George Gonzalez, a professional journalist and author at The Nation View. With more than 5 years of experience in the field, I specialize in covering sports news for various print media outlets. My passion for writing has enabled me to craft stories that capture the attention of readers all over the world.
