British Swimming Championships 2024: Resurgent Adam Peaty blazes to 100m breaststroke gold
Adam Peaty stormed to victory in the 100m breaststroke on Day 1 of the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships (formerly British Swimming Championships) on Tuesday 2 April.
The two-time Olympic 100m breaststroke champion's win at the London Aquatics Centre in 57.94 seconds was the fastest time of 2024 and comes after he took a year out of the pool due to struggles with mental health and alcohol issues.
If there were any lingering doubts over Peaty's ability to return to top form they were answered in emphatic fashion. He has now earned a place on the GB team for Paris 2024 (pending official selection) and will be expected to battle to become the first swimmer since Michael Phelps to earn three Olympic golds in the same individual event.
"There's still a lot to come there," a delighted Peaty said in a post-race interview. "This morning I was like, I'm actually so grateful that I'm back here and I didn't give up, and I think that's a message to a lot of the young people in the crowd today, that may not be getting and PBs (personal bests). I haven't had a PB in like five years but it's the hope every day."
Peaty is also the world record holder in the 100m breaststroke, having set a time of 56.88 in 2019. And while his bronze at the World Aquatics Championships earlier this year will have given hope to his competitors during this Olympic year, the manner in which he eased to victory in the final - having also set a world lead in his morning heats - will leave them in no doubt that he is back and in as fine shape as ever.
Peaty has looked supremely confident at these championships and cut a relaxed figure on on the starting blocks as he lined up for the most important race of his year so far.
After the race, he spoke about the renewed passion he has for his sport, saying: "As athletes, we take it very seriously, as it should be. But never let it get in the way of a good day.
"I woke up today and I was like, 'You know what, I'm blessed, I'm healthy, I've got a good talent, and I just want to race the best in the world.' And that's a good job to have, so you've got to put it in perspective."
As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.
Fast times on the board as British team for Paris 2024 begins to take shape
The Day 1 finals had drama written all over them as the best of Britain competed for national titles and those all-important nominations to the GB team for the upcoming Olympic Games.
The first finisher in each of the finals will secure a place on the British team - provided they hit the Olympic entry standard in the gold medal race and their nominations are confirmed by the National Olympic Committee. Second-place finishers who also achieve the standard can also be selected to the team, with Britain taking a maximum of 30 swimmers to Paris 2024.
The day began with Kieran Bird's victory in the men's 400m freestyle in a time of 3:45.63, which was agonisingly just outside the entry time of 3:45.54.
The drama continued in the second race of the evening, as Keanna Macinnes produced a stunning comeback to win the women's 200m butterfly in 2:07.24 with the final stroke of the race. Both her and second-place Laura Stephens (2:07.37) went under the entry standard.
The other race of the evening saw Freya Colbert beat favourite Abbie Wood to the wall in the women's 200m freestyle, with the race also defining Britain's 4x200m freestyle relay team for the upcoming Games.
Action continues tomorrow (3 April) with the finals of the women's 1500m freestyle, men's 200m butterfly, women's 200m backstroke, men's 100m backstroke and women's 100m backstroke.