Adam Peaty Sets Sights on LA 2028 After Resetting His Relationship with Swimming

Adam Peaty is counting down to what he hopes will be the defining chapter of his swimming career. The double Olympic champion has committed to pursuing further glory at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, buoyed by a restored passion for the sport following a turbulent period that included injury, mental health struggles and a narrow defeat in Paris.

Peaty, who married model Holly Ramsay, daughter of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, in December, says his perspective on swimming has fundamentally shifted. He acknowledges the sport's demands but credits his family life with bringing a sense of peace that allows him to perform at his best.

"The Olympics is the one that excites me," Peaty said. "That is the one that really gets me out of bed every day, the one I dream of. We have to set that path now. Two years out, it is about how much racing and experience can we gather to give the best performance in LA."

The 50-metre breaststroke event being added to the programme for 2028 gave Peaty fresh motivation. He won gold in the 100m at both Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021, and the opportunity to add an individual 50m title to his collection represented a compelling reason to continue.

His recent competitive record has been mixed. Peaty claimed gold in the 50m at the Edinburgh International Swim Meet a month ago but finished fourth in the 100m, beaten by 18-year-old British junior world champion Filip Nowacki. He will compete over both distances at this week's British Championships, a key step toward the Commonwealth Games, World and European Championships, and ultimately LA.

Looking back at Paris, where he lost his 100m crown to Italy's Nicolo Martinenghi having contracted coronavirus in the days before the final, Peaty feels he performed exceptionally given the circumstances. "With the cards I was dealt I swam out of my skin. I shouldn't have got a silver medal," he said.

The road to LA has not been smooth. Before Tokyo, Peaty spoke openly about a period he described as a self-destructive spiral, involving both injury and mental health challenges. He is confident those issues are behind him.

"Can we avoid burnout? Absolutely. It is the logistical and strategic thinking we have to do," he said. "I look at my life without sport and I wouldn't be 5% of the man I am. With sport giving me what it has given, the price is the price."

Peaty has also found an unlikely mentor in his father-in-law. Gordon Ramsay, who has completed multiple Ironman and ultramarathon events, has become a source of guidance. "He knows the game is the game, that it doesn't lie. But it will humble you and you've got to work hard for those results," Peaty said.

Ramsay also delivered a memorable speech at Peaty's wedding, something the swimmer concedes was always going to be difficult to top. "He was able to bring the room together because that is what a wedding is in my eyes — you bring these people from all areas of your life, you bring them together," Peaty said.

With his family settled and his focus sharpened, Peaty appears ready to pursue what could be the most significant chapter of his career.