WATCH out world, Adam Peaty is back. Not that swimming’s breaststroke bandit ever went into hiding. Merely that, in plain sight, he afforded his rivals a hint of fallibility in what may prove to be a cruel and vicious raising of their hopes.
The Olympic champion transported a four-year winning streak to Australia’s Gold Coast last April and, over 50 metres at least, he proved beatable. Even then, moments later, he signalled the horrific blip might become a worthy boon. Stung, but motivated to ensure no further lapse. And as the route map towards Tokyo 2020 is plotted into his satnav, there is a sense of assurance that all is well, and will get much better still.
Modest proof to justify such immense self-confidence was offered at the Edinburgh International meeting last night as the 24-year-old reclaimed a familiar position at the head of the world rankings with a punishing display in the 100m breaststroke. Four weeks out from the British trials for this summer’s world championships, the time of 58.73 seconds was a marker assuredly laid down.
By Peaty’s standards, it felt like coasting. That level of exertion, compared to his utmost? “About 70 per cent,” he grinned mischievously. James Wilby, exactly a half-second behind, now finds himself second-ranked in 2019. “Pretty happy,” the Commonwealth champion at 200m affirmed. “I’m just looking to make incremental improvements on that, with the long-term goal being Tokyo.”
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Scottish pair Ross Murdoch and Craig Benson, third and fourth, were simply chasing shadows. “It’s tough when you’ve got someone who might be going for a world record,” the latter joked. Yet the man with designs on additional history is serious about his craft.
And about becoming the first man ever to swim this event under 57 seconds. Project 56 remains a live ambition, with the competitive fuel of retaining his global crowns surely set to push Peaty below his current world record of 57.10 which was set at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
He, and his coach Mel Marshall, will take incentives and inspiration wherever it might come, especially when all his challengers gather in the South Korean city of Gwangju in mid-July when he will have two world titles to defend.
“This year is one of my hardest years in terms of championships and fending everyone off,” he declared. “Everyone is trying to take a pop at me. But I know exactly where I’m heading. And that’s going to world championships and trying to do something remarkable there. This was a real confidence boost for me because I didn’t think I’d get anywhere near that.”
There is an internal pressure that serves him well. “I’m almost bringing it on myself,” he affirmed. I’ve got to think that way.” Let the others take their best shot. He’ll be ready.
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“I’m stronger than ever in training. It’s about resting up and seeing where we get mid-season. Here I didn’t think I’d get into that number one ranking spot. But I don’t care if they get it because it means nothing. When the world championships come, it will be an even equal playing field. Everyone is going to be rested. So, I’ll be right up in that game.”
If Peaty is the Alpha Dog of British swimming, then Duncan Scott has ample claim on the role of Beta Terrier. The Scot underlined his own readiness for the forthcoming trials by pushing his lungs to the limit to prevail in an elimination skins format in the 50m freestyle, recuperating admirably after coming off second-best to James Guy in the 200 metres butterfly. “I was really pleased with that, it’s the fastest I’ve ever done in-season,” said the European Championships gold medallist, who will race the 100m free today. “But the 50m would have been easier if I’d not done the 200 fly.”
2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Aimee Willmott claimed the 400 individual medley title by over four seconds from Abbie Wood with Hannah Miley third in a positive portent on her comeback ankle surgery. Wilmott, based at the University of Stirling, was taken off the sport’s Lottery funding list last year despite her triumph in Gold Coast. However it has not killed her resolve. “This is the thing I love doing,” the 26-year-old from Middlesbrough said. ‘If it had been an issue, I’d have stopped by now.’
Instead, she is going into schools and clubs to spread the aquatic gospel. A source of income but also a passion. “It’s nice to something different to focus on. It helps me keep it fresh.”
Jessica Fullalo held off Cassie Wild to win the women’s 50m backstroke with Germany’s Christian Diener prevailing in the men’s event while Stirling’s Danielle Huskisson won the 800m freestyle and Alys Thomas the 100m butterfly.
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