Adam Peaty, the decorated British swimmer with three Olympic and eight World Championship titles, has set his sights high for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Peaty is aiming for an ambitious four gold medals in the pool.
The 30-year-old has a history of Olympic success, competing in the 100m breaststroke, 4x100m mixed medley, and 4x100m medley, earning three gold and three silver medals.
The confirmation in April 2025 that the 50m breaststroke would be added to the 2028 program presents a significant opportunity for Peaty, a three-time world champion and current world record holder in the event.
Peaty intends to compete in both individual breaststroke events in Los Angeles. The two medley events offer the additional incentive of defeating the reigning champions, the United States, on their “home turf.”
“I’m very excited the 50m has been added but I will do the 100m as well, so that will give me four opportunities to [win a] medal,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“We want to beat America on home turf in that medley. We’ve got the incredible Oliver Morgan on backstroke, some very strong times – and that’s always been our weak link at previous Olympics. It’s very exciting.”
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Following his silver medal in the 100m breaststroke at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Peaty took a break from swimming.
He previously took a more extended break in 2023 to prioritize his mental health after experiencing a “major, major burnout”.
While he admits to missing competition, particularly during the ongoing World Championships in Singapore, Peaty has a well-defined plan for his return and is approaching training “a lot smarter” as a more experienced athlete.
“I made the call in January or February, when I started to get back into training, that this Worlds wouldn’t be for me because it would be too rushed,” Peaty said.
“I want to be at the [2026] Commonwealth Games. I want to be at the Europeans next year. I’m never going to take my spot for granted – just because I’ve got a world record doesn’t mean I’m going to be there, it’s ridiculous. I’ve got to earn those places, which excites me.
“I did some race prep before I came out here to see where I’m at and we’re in a good place for October World Cups in America and Canada.”
Regarding his training regimen, he noted, “If you’d told me 10 years ago I’d be doing a pilates session this morning, I would have said ‘no way’.
“I look back on certain camps and I was chasing numbers, I needed the outputs, the validation. But I wasn’t swimming the smartest in my head in terms of recovery, mental health and the warning signs of what burnout looks like.
“[Now] it’s what I decide. This block [in Los Angeles], I know it’s a holiday so I’m just going to see how I feel. When I get back into England I’m ramping up for the Commonwealth Games – 4km sessions, 4.5km – and that gives me the best results.”