Adam Ramsay-Peaty becomes the latest to face the latter situation on Saturday – in the 100m breaststroke final at Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games, shortly after 21:00 BST.<\/p>\n
The greatest breaststroker the world has seen is on his own journey – one which he hopes ends with a third individual gold at the Los Angeles Olympics in two years’ time.<\/p>\n
Manoeuvring into his slipstream is 18-year-old Filip Nowacki.<\/p>\n
Master meet apprentice.<\/p>\n
Not only has Nowacki started to pick off Ramsay-Peaty’s age-group records, he is part of the 31-year-old’s AP Race stable – the programme set up to develop the next generation.<\/p>\n
Ramsay-Peaty has spoken of wanting to mentor and pass on advice to his young pretender. Last year, Nowacki repaid him by breaking his 100m breaststroke junior British record.<\/p>\n
Ramsay-Peaty, who is chasing a 33rd major gold of a glittering career, appeared in no mood to hand over the baton in Friday’s semi-finals.<\/p>\n
There is uncertainty around a broken finger suffered in June but, side by side in lanes four and five, Ramsay-Peaty built an early lead and held off the youngster in the second length. Nowacki was close but never quite close enough.<\/p>\n
“I saw his front wave, but at the same time that is what I train for,” Ramsay-Peaty said.<\/p>\n
“I know I am a sprinter. I know I can go out fast.”<\/p>\n
Nowacki, who competes for Jersey here having learned to swim under the tutelage of Nathan Jegou on the Channel Island, is arguably best in the 200m event – a distance Ramsay-Peaty does not race.<\/p>\n
In this shorter contest, it is the youngster who should stay stronger for longer.<\/p>\n
And when they spoke afterwards alongside each other, Ramsay-Peaty, all chest and tattooed muscle, towered over his young rival – so much so you would be forgiven for thinking the pair compete in different sports.<\/p>\n
Nowacki appeared wary of Ramsay-Peaty but there is a cheeky confidence within.<\/p>\n
“Course I do,” he laughed when asked if he believes he can win.<\/p>\n
“No, I wish, I’m gonna give it my best shot” was his quick addition.<\/p>\n
Nowacki was not long out of armbands when Ramsay-Peaty won gold in this same pool at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.<\/p>\n
That was his emergence on to the global stage and two years later the Englishman won his first Olympic title in Rio de Janeiro. Nowacki was only eight years old.<\/p>\n
“Adam is a true role model in the sport,” Nowacki said.<\/p>\n
“I grew up watching him race at Rio, Tokyo and Paris.<\/p>\n
“To race him and not be a random competitor but give him a race is special to me.”<\/p>\n
The pair should compete as Team GB team-mates in LA but are also racing for their own personal ambitions on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Despite winning an emotional silver<\/a> at the Olympics in Paris two years ago, Ramsay-Peaty has not stood atop a major podium since the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022.<\/p>\n