"If I don’t get the result that I want, I self-destruct" - When Adam Peaty revealed his struggles with swimming following phases of depression

The British swimming prodigy Adam Peaty once revealed his struggles with swimming and admitted to being self-destructive when his hard work did not yield the desired results. The behavior came as the aftermath of his mental health issues and alcohol addiction.

Adam Peaty is dubbed one of the best men's breaststroke swimmers in the sport's history. He is a reigning two-time men's 100m breaststroke Olympic champion and secured two silvers in the 4x100m medley relay and a gold in the mixed 4x100m medley relay across his two Summer Games appearances. Furthermore, Peaty is also an eight-time world champion and holds the current world record in the 100-meter breaststroke.

Despite being one of the most decorated swimmers of all time, the 29-year-old British phenom had his own struggles with mental health and alcoholism. His condition worsened when he broke up with his wife, Eirianned Munro, in 2022, with whom he has a three-year-old son. In an Instagram post last year in May, Peaty revealed that he was not enjoying swimming as much as he once did, as a result of which he withdrew from the 2023 British Swimming Championships, citing mental health concerns.

Discussing his struggles in an interview with "Times" last year, Adam Peaty disclosed that he went on a self-destructive spiral. He said (via "Independent"):

"I got to a point in my career where I didn’t feel like myself – I didn’t feel happy swimming, I didn’t feel happy racing, my biggest love in the sport. I’ve had my hand hovering over a self-destruct button because if I don’t get the result that I want, I self-destruct."

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"I’m finding peace in the water now" - When Adam Peaty spoke about finding solace in swimming again

Doha 2024 World Aquatics Championships - Day 13: Swimming

Adam Peaty secured his ticket to the Paris Olympics this year in April following his 100m breaststroke victory at the British Swimming Championships. He finished the heat in 57.94 seconds to qualify for the French event.

After the victory, Peaty opened up about rediscovering his passion for swimming after enduring all those struggles. He said (via "State of Swimming"):

"That was a great swim, executed well – but the most promising thing is that I’m finding peace in the water now, instead of anger and just fighting it, and trying to win like that."

With his Paris Games qualification confirmed, Adam Peaty becomes one of the leading medal contenders for Great Britain and has also cleared his way to achieve the three-peat in the 100m breaststroke at the French event.