Adam Peaty has found 'hunger that was missing' ahead of 2022 Commonwealth Games

It might sound odd, but Adam Peaty believes that getting injured was the best thing for his long-term swimming career.

Yes, the British star had to stay out of the water for six weeks and watch his 50m and 100m breaststroke world titles go to other men for the first time since 2015.

But his absence also means he is now mentally rejuvenated and hungrier than ever to win at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, less than an hour from his hometown Uttoxeter.

"I guess for me, I'm very grateful for the opportunity and especially these last few months where I haven't had the smoothest ride. That something had been taken away from me that I had no control over,” Peaty said at a Great Britain media day ahead of the event.

“That’s given me a new lease of life, that’s given me a hunger that I thought was missing. After the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which was a very, very tough five-year block of work, I feel good, I feel fresh, I feel the mind is ready to go and I've got no expectations on where I need to be a Commonwealths. I'm just going to go see where I'm at, put some markers down.

“I've adapted, I've learned, I've overcome. And I couldn't have worked harder. I couldn't have put more into my preparation that I've currently put in and now it's about a home crowd in Birmingham, you know, let’s have it."

READ: All you need to know about swimming at the 2022 Commonwealth Games

Adam Peaty can complete medal collection at Commonwealth Games

While the three-time Olympic gold medallist has placed no expectations upon himself for this meet, there is plenty still at stake.

Peaty has won almost every title available to him in breaststroke, apart from the 50m Commonwealth title.

He finished with silver in 2014 and 2018, and would love to rectify that at the brand Sandwell Aquatics Centre in the West Midlands of the UK.

_“_It's the only one I haven't won, so I better not get disqualified! But you've still got to earn the right to win that. You've still got to win that every single time for the heats, semis and finals. And I think that's down to my success over the last seven years that I treat every single race as one I haven't won and nothing is ever given to you. So with that mindset now I'm just very focused on what I need to do,” he continued.

_“_I'm a veteran of the sport now. I am getting older, I'm one of the oldest ones on the team. But that doesn't mean less energy or less performance. For me, that is I've got more experience than pretty much anyone and at a championships that's where I come in handy.”

On top home advantage, another handy advantage the eight-time world champion will have in Birmingham is the support of his son.

_“_That's going to give me 10 per cent. When I see my boy in the crowd it's one of those isn't it, there’s no feeling like it.”

Revolutionary swimming training techniques

Finding success so soon after breaking his ankle would be nothing new for Peaty, who is renowned for defying traditional viewpoints on what is possible.

The three-time Olympic gold medallist has broken world records 14 times, and was the first man to swim under 58 and 57 seconds over the 100m breaststroke.

During his recent six-week stint out of the water as his broken foot healed, the 27-year-old was forced to use non-traditional methods of training like the watt bike, SkiErg, and even canoeing.

In turn, he may have now revolutionised swimming training.

“I've learned that you don't need to be in the water as much as we've always seen [in the past],” he continued.

“Swimming as we've always seen, it's very traditional. You need to put the metres in, you need to do 10km a day, you need to do this, and I'm like, “No.”

“You look at other sports and how they adapt and how they overcome and other athletes who have had injuries and have completely gone away from it, and they’ve come back stronger and faster.”

Project Immortal the long-term goal ahead of Paris 2024

While winning gold medals at the Commonwealth Games would be nice, it is not Peaty’s key motivation for this Olympic cycle.

His self-styled ‘Project Immortal’ - setting a world record that will never be beaten - remains the goal.

If all goes to plan, that could happen at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

“I wouldn't be swimming if I knew that I couldn't break the world record again. And it's just not enough for me to stay in the sport and win and win and win in terms of the championships, I mean, it is, but it isn't at the same time. For me, I'm all about human excellence, pushing the body and the mind as far as it can go. And that is extremely tough, but that's exactly where I thrive, in these tough, uncomfortable moments,” he said.

_“_The investment now, it's all about Paris [2024 Olympics] and these Commonwealth Games, the Europeans, the World Championships next year, hopefully it will go ahead and it’s full crowds in preparation for Paris [2024].”