Adam Ramsay-Peaty broke down in tears after being pipped to Commonwealth Games gold in the 100m breaststroke, questioning whether the pain of elite sport is worth it. The three-time Olympic champion finished third in Glasgow, beaten by Australia’s Sam Williamson and Jersey’s 18-year-old history-maker Filip Nowacki, who claimed his island’s first Commonwealth medal in 36 years with silver.
“I work a lot harder than what it says on the scoreboard,” Ramsay-Peaty said, his eyes red with emotion. “It hurts too much. I have got to approach training differently now because it hurts too much.” He clocked 59.65 seconds – more than four-tenths slower than his semi-final and three seconds off his personal best. The 31-year-old, who took a break from swimming in 2023 due to mental health issues and considered retirement after missing Olympic gold in Paris, embraced his pregnant wife Holly – daughter of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay – and kissed her baby bump after the race. The couple married last December and are expecting their first child later this year.
“Adam Ramsay-Peaty breaks down after 100m breaststroke bronze; Sean McCann finishes last in 400m freestyle for Scotland.”
“What’s the point of all the 5.30am starts? What’s the point of all the metres every single day?” he asked. “It has to mean something. For me, that means striving for excellence, and today wasn’t excellence.” He will now turn his attention to the 50m breaststroke, his final chance to become the first British swimmer to win gold at four consecutive Commonwealth Games.
Elsewhere in the pool, Sean McCann – the younger brother of missing Madeleine McCann – finished last in the men’s 400m freestyle final for Scotland. The 21-year-old student at Loughborough University was 12 seconds off the pace as Australia swept the podium with Sam Short, Elijah Winnington and Benjamin Goedemans. Backed by a home crowd, McCann was cheered as he emerged at Tollcross Swimming Centre, with his parents Kate and Gerry and twin sister Amelie watching from the stands. “The Olympics is always that step even further,” said McCann, who qualified through his Scottish father. “Hopefully a couple more years work I will be in the mix for the Olympics.” He still has chances in the 800m and 1500m freestyle later in the meet.
Australia continue to dominate the medal table early in these slimmed-down Games, hosted by Glasgow after Victoria backed out due to costs. England’s Mark Swan secured the first gold of the championships in men’s para powerlifting, hoisting 222kg – more than three times his body weight. For Ramsay-Peaty, the search for that winning feeling on the big stage remains unresolved. “I just think I deserve more,” he said. “This is probably – realistically – my last Commonwealth Games and I thought I’d trained for better.”
