Adam Peaty Misses Gold by 0.02 Seconds

Adam Peaty, tearful but proud earned silver in the 100m breaststroke final at the Paris Olympics after Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi claimed a surprising gold. Peaty, 29, who stayed in contention with 25 meters to go, narrowly lost to Martinenghi by just 0.02 seconds and tied for second with American Nic Fink. Peaty aimed to join Michael Phelps as the second swimmer to win the same event at three consecutive Olympics.

Although he fell short, Peaty’s silver marks a significant achievement especially considering his recent struggles with mental health and alcohol issues. After taking a break from swimming following his last gold in Tokyo, his emotional reaction underscored the challenges he faced. “I am not crying because I have come second. I am crying because of how much it took to get here,” Adam Peaty told the BBC. “In my heart I have won. These are happy tears.”

This medal raises his Olympic tally to six with three golds and three silvers. Peaty’s return to elite competition involved overcoming a challenging period, including a broken foot in 2022 that ended his eight-year unbeaten streak. After a hiatus, he won bronze at this year’s World Championships and qualified fastest for the final. Although he led briefly in the final length, Martinenghi surged ahead in the final strokes.

Following Kimberley Woods’ bronze in kayaking earlier on Sunday, Team GB now holds two silvers and two bronzes. Peaty, reflecting on his long and challenging comeback, chose to focus on the upcoming relays rather than discussing his future.