Commonwealth Games 2026: Adam Ramsay-Peaty in tears after bronze medal
After tears in Paris, tears again in Glasgow.
It makes even the Big Man Ramsay-Peaty wonder how much of this will be worth.
“I’ve been working a lot harder than what’s on the scoreboard,” the Englishman said, his eyes and cheeks turning red with emotion, after taking bronze in the 100m breaststroke at the Commonwealth Games.
“It hurts so much. I have to approach training differently now because it hurts so much.”
Ramsay-Peaty has achieved everything in this sport.
Three Olympic gold medals. Eight world championships. The 14 fastest times in history.
But after taking a break from swimming in 2023 due to mental health issues, he is still searching for that feeling of winning on the big stage.
He was awarded the gold medal at the Olympics in Paris two years ago. Although he reached the final in Glasgow as the fastest qualifier, he had to settle for bronze.
In addition to Australian Sam Williamson, he also lost to 18-year-old Jersey history maker Filip Nowacki, whom he took under his wing.
Ramsay-Peaty was third at the halfway point and was unable to close the gap.
“It took a lot of courage to return to the sport, so we must be happy with everything we have achieved, but it is at odds with the athlete in me and what I have worked for,” he said.
“I just think I deserve more. I know sport isn’t about what you deserve or even what you work for; it’s about who gets it on the day.”
“I just know I’m a better athlete than this. It’s very disappointing.”
Ramsay-Peaty talked about the difficult decisions that come with being an elite athlete. The times he was separated from his son, whom he held in his arms after the Paris silver. Events he had to miss at home.
“These aren’t even sacrifices; they’re choices,” he said.
“It’s like being eliminated in the group stages of the World Cup for a very good team. You know you are better and it hurts because you know you have to wait a very long time for the next championship.”
“This is probably – realistically – my last Commonwealth Games and I thought I was training to get better. I could have done better. I was faster this season. That’s where the disappointment comes from.”
Ramsay-Peaty has made no secret of the fact that she is still competing in her quest for an Olympic gold medal.
He considered retiring again after Paris, but when the 50-meter race was added to the Los Angeles 2028 schedule, he committed to another four years.
This 100m breaststroke is his race – the race in which he has been unbeaten for eight years – but one day he may have to give it up.
The 50-metre race across one length of the pool will be less taxing on the body and Ramsay-Peaty is expected to return to the pool for this event on Sunday morning.
“Is 100 valid anymore? I don’t know,” he said.
“When it hurts like this, 50 is probably my superpower along with my strength.
“With the Olympics this will probably become more realistic, but it is too early to say.
“I feel like I couldn’t have given more this cycle. If I had given less, would that have equaled even more?”
Given the sentiment, there are times when you wonder how close Ramsay-Peaty came to walking away completely.
He appeared to walk to the side but always turned back and insisted that the road to Los Angeles continue.
“Of course,” he said.
“I know I’m a sprinter. I know I can do great things because I’ve done it. It doesn’t disappear overnight.
“It requires me to look at the formulas and see how I can get to that speed again.”
