Adam Peaty broke down in tears after his bid for Commonwealth Games gold ended with 100m breaststroke bronze.
Brand new name, but not the same old result. He may now be double-barrelled, but he will not be chasing double gold here in Glasgow.
The three-time Olympic champion was beaten in the 100m breaststroke, an event he dominated for so long, by Australia’s Sam Williamson.
He was then edged into bronze as rising star Filip Nowacki, just 18, claimed Jersey’s first Commonwealth Games medal in 36 years with a stunning silver to cement his place as the coming man of British breaststroke.
Ramsay-Peaty will now turn his attention to defending his 50m breaststroke title – his final chance to become the first British swimmer to win gold at four consecutive Commonwealth Games.
“I’m never afraid to show emotion,” he said. “It’s important because it helps create stronger people, stronger men, stronger fathers and stronger husbands. “This cycle especially, I’ve worked harder than ever. To get a result like that hurts because I know I’m better than that.
“It’s still very raw. I honestly feel like I deserve more. There’s a lot of thinking to do, but it’s too early to draw any conclusions. Maybe it was just an off swim. Maybe it’s because I’ve been away from championship racing for two years. I honestly don’t know.
“What’s the point of all the 5.30am starts? What’s the point of all the metres every single day? What’s the point of being exhausted all the time, or missing family events because you have to train? It has to mean something. For me, that means striving for excellence, and today wasn’t excellence. That’s where the emotion comes from.
“The choices I’ve made over the last few months have been difficult. At the same time, I’m proud that I got here and that I didn’t quit after Paris [Olympics]. I know I deserve more, and I know I can work for it.
“It’s been two years since I’ve raced heats, semis and finals, so maybe it’s just an adjustment. It’s too early to know what I’m capable of at this stage, but I’m a fighter. We’ve got another opportunity at the Europeans in two weeks, and I do enjoy a scrap. I lost that scrap today, but that’s sport. Most of the time I’ve won those battles – this time I didn’t.”
Ramsay-Peaty admitted he came close to quitting his sport after failing to defend his 100m breaststroke Olympic title in Paris. He described the period as a “self-destructive spiral” as he battled injury problems and mental health struggles.
He married model Holly Ramsay – daughter of celebrity chef Gordon – in December, and the couple recently announced they were expecting their first child later this year.
However, social media commentary and headlines surrounding his strained relationship with his parents have clearly taken their toll, the swimmer claiming a life lived in the spotlight and on the front and back pages could not continue.
“Over the last couple of months I’ve had to make some hard decisions so I could focus on doing my job,” he added. “I’ve had to ignore a lot of the rubbish people write online. Enough is enough. This goes beyond sport. It’s about being decent people. We all have to do better.
“My wife will always be proud of me. As a father, it doesn’t matter whether you come home with a gold medal, as long as you come home. That’s what really matters.”
Ramsay-Peaty boasts the nine fastest times in history over the distance, but his 59.65-second swim here was his slowest in a major championship final for a decade.
He was simply Adam Peaty when once asked to sum himself up in two words. “Never satisfied,” came the reply.
These days, the 31-year-old cuts a more reflective figure. Gone are the soundbites that made it seem as though he’d swallowed a self-help book, along with the relentless references to his “Gladiator mindset”.
The last time the Commonwealth Games were in Glasgow, Ramsay-Peaty was swimming’s brightest new star. Now, he admits he is fighting to stay in the slipstream of the next generation.
“He’s got a very bright future ahead of him. I’m really looking forward to watching him in the 200m,” Ramsay-Peaty added of teenage rival Nowacki.
“He’s probably my favourite for that event because he’s got real speed. He’s got plenty of miles ahead of him. Mine are probably coming towards the end, but two years is still enough time to try to find something.”
Nowacki, whom Ramsay-Peaty describes as his “apprentice”, may not have to remain in the shadows for much longer. If his mentor cut a glum figure, his smile was as wide as the Clyde.
“Adam started here 12 years ago, and I’ve watched him grow up in the sport, from Rio to Tokyo and Paris,” he said. “It’s a real privilege to race alongside him. I was the one being inspired by Adam, and now I’m on the other side.”
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