“When you have children, when you hug them, you realise that it is something greater than anything can ever provide,” decorated British swimmer Adam Peaty said before taking a shot at his fourth Olympic gold. “So for me, if I touch the wall and it’s not the result I want, I’ll be disappointed. But in 2021 and way before that, I’d be almost tearing myself apart that my life isn’t worth living because you’ve lost and that isn’t sustainable because it’s not an attitude to have.”
Peaty missed out on gold by just two-hundredths of a second in the 100m breaststroke final in Paris, as Italy’s Nicolò Martinenghi pipped him to the wall.
While many are heartbroken that the legendary swimmer narrowly missed out on matching Michael Phelps as the only male swimmer to have won the same Olympic swimming event three times in a row, one must step back and look at the full picture.
No cherries left to pick off
The greatest British swimmer of all time, Peaty has won a host of championships — three at the Olympics, eight at the World Championships, four at the Commonwealth Games, and 16 at the European Championships.
When you’ve achieved so much and won everything that’s there to be won, not least the Olympic gold, and that too thrice, it’s a hell of a job to find a goal big enough to chase.
This is precisely what happened with Adam Peaty after he stood atop the podium in Tokyo. The swimmer decided to not go even close to the pool for a month afterwards as he recovered from the mental ordeal. Peaty then took part in the BBC’s “Strictly Come Dancing” but self-admittedly returned to the pool too soon, resulting in severe burnout.
After breaking his foot, he couldn’t compete in the 2022 World Championships, and when he finally returned, things weren’t the same. In front of the home crowd, Peaty lost the Commonwealth Games 100-metre final—the first time it had happened in eight years.
Shortly after that, the star swimmer lost both the 50m and the 100m at the short course World Championships in Melbourne, which, as per him, led to a “self-destructive spiral”. Depression and the breakdown of his relationship with the mother of his son, George, followed. Things worsened to the point where Peaty had to withdraw from racing last March due to mental health struggles.
Why do top athletes nosedive?
The pinnacle of athletic achievement, a gold medal, comes after years of gruelling training, sacrifice, and persistence. Yet, for many athletes, the euphoria of victory is often followed by a stark and often isolating reality. The abrupt transition from a laser-sharp focus to a sense of purposelessness can be a daunting challenge, leading to a host of mental and emotional struggles.
The life of an elite athlete is meticulously structured around a single, overarching goal: to win. Every waking moment is dedicated to physical and mental preparation. Success is measured in milliseconds, centimeters, and points. This intense focus creates a hyper-real world where the athlete exists in a bubble, shielded from the complexities of everyday life.
When the gold medal is finally draped around their neck, a void opens up. The structure, the purpose, the adrenaline rush – all of it disappears. The world that once revolved around them shrinks dramatically. It’s as if the athlete has climbed the highest mountain, only to find an empty plateau at the summit.
Depression is a common consequence of this abrupt shift. The highs of victory are followed by the crushing lows of emptiness. Without the structure and goals of their athletic career, many athletes struggle to find a new sense of purpose. The identity they have cultivated for years, centered around their sport, is no longer relevant. This loss of identity can be devastating to one’s self-esteem.
To cope with the overwhelming emotions, some athletes turn to alcohol which becomes a tempting escape, like in Peaty’s case. It numbs the pain, provides a temporary sense of relief, and helps to forget the void. However, this is a short-term solution with long-term consequences. Alcohol abuse can lead to a downward spiral, affecting physical and mental health, relationships, and career prospects.
The pressure to maintain a certain image can also contribute to these problems. The public expects athletes to be perpetually happy and successful. Any sign of weakness or vulnerability is often met with criticism. This fear of judgment can prevent athletes from seeking help, deepening their isolation and despair.
Only a select few, like Peaty, bounce back
All this makes bouncing back from this crisis an arduous journey. Against the odds, Peaty returned to the pool in February and like a true champion, brought himself to speed such that had he been quicker by just two-hundredths of a second, he would have equalled the GOAT Michael Phelps.
“In my heart, I have won. These are happy tears,” Peaty said after the final race. “I am not crying because I have come second. I am crying because of how much it took to get here. People don’t understand the sacrifice – the choices you have to make just for winning Olympic gold.”
Adam’s first major success came at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, when he captured headlines as a 19-year-old, winning gold for England in the 100m breaststroke and medley relay, followed by a silver in the 50m.
From there on, his closely-followed journey has given fans several moments to rejoice. While accolades are undeniably significant, a more enduring measure of greatness might be found in the ability to sustain peak performance over a long period. Longevity in elite sports, the capacity to compete at the highest level for an exceptional duration, says a lot about Peaty’s physical, mental, and emotional fortitude.
The enduring appeal of legends like Tom Brady, Roger Federer, and Serena Williams emphasises the magnetic pull of longevity. A fourth Olympic gold notwithstanding, Peaty is certainly a part of this elite club of athletes who have brought smiles to the faces of sports fans over an extended period.
When you factor in that Covid-19 was already beginning to take control of the 29-year-old Briton (or like Peaty put it in a much slick manner: “a little bit on my throat”) even before the race, his achievement becomes all the more remarkable.
As the great swimmer himself says: “The sun always rises the next morning no matter what. That’s not defeatist in any sense. That just gives me peace.”
Image Source 1 & 2: AP | Image Source 3: BBC | Image Source 4: Getty
