A tearful Adam Peaty had to settle for Olympic silver as Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi claimed a stunning gold in the 100m breaststroke final in Paris.
Peaty, 29, was in a strong position with 25 meters remaining but was narrowly edged out by 0.02 seconds, finishing in a tie for second with American Nic Fink.
The British swimmer was aiming to become only the second man, after the legendary Michael Phelps, to win the same swimming event at three consecutive Olympics.
Despite missing out on gold, Peaty’s silver medal is a remarkable achievement, especially given his recent struggles with alcohol and mental health issues since his last gold in Tokyo.
“I am not crying because I have come second. I am crying because of how much it took to get here,” Peaty told the BBC.
“In my heart I have won. These are happy tears.”
The medal takes Peaty’s Olympic tally to six medals – three golds and three silvers.
Following Kimberley Woods’ bronze in kayaking earlier on Sunday, Team GB now holds two silvers and two bronzes after two days of competition at the Olympics.
Peaty wins silver after ‘long way back’
Just last year, Peaty was contemplating quitting the sport entirely, describing his struggles as a “self-destructive spiral.”
These issues intensified after he fractured his foot in 2022, ending his remarkable eight-year unbeaten streak in the 100m.
Following his return last autumn, Peaty secured a bronze at this year’s World Championships and qualified fastest for the final, ahead of China’s Qin Haiyang.
Qin, the 2023 world champion and Peaty’s anticipated rival for gold, led by 0.05 seconds at the turn but then faltered.
Peaty surged into the lead midway through the final length, only to be overtaken by Martinenghi in the closing moments. Both Peaty and Fink finished at exactly the same time.
Peaty became tearful as he reflected on his challenging recent years and was visibly emotional after the medal ceremony, especially when he embraced his three-year-old son.
“It has been a very long way back,” said Peaty. “I gave it my absolute all.
“It is just incredibly hard to win it once, and again, and again, and trying to find new ways to do it.
“I can’t have that relentless pursuit every single day without a sacrifice of some sort and that sacrifice can come in different ways – time, energy, relationships.”
He refused to be drawn on his future after the race, instead insisting his focus remains on the relays later in the meet.