\u201cI\u2019m not crying because it\u2019s a bronze instead of a gold,\u201d Ramsay-Peaty insisted. \u201cI\u2019m crying because I know that the swim could have been better, and I know I worked way better than that. Something isn\u2019t hitting right. Whether it\u2019s the pace, whether it\u2019s the focus, I\u2019m not sure. I feel like I couldn\u2019t have really put more in.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that\u2019s where it hurts. I\u2019m like: \u2018What\u2019s the point of all the 5.30am starts? What\u2019s the point of being exhausted all the time? What\u2019s the point of having to say no to family events because you\u2019re training?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Initially it seemed to be business as usual. Ramsay-Peaty arrived blowing kisses to the crowd. He then kept his rivals waiting as he took his pool coat off. Up to now this was classic Ramsay-Peaty. But when he launched into the pool, everything was off.<\/p>\n
At his best, the greatest breaststroke sprinter in history is able to power out of the blocks, establish a supreme dominance before the turn, and easily hold off any fast finishers. But he was in a fight from the start, and was only third at halfway.<\/p>\n
He scraped to the end, like all good fighters. But he was unable to catch Williamson, who won in 59.37sec, or Nowicki, who glided into second 0.17 back. Ramsay-Peaty\u2019s finishing time of 59.65 was nearly three seconds off his world record.<\/p>\n
Sam Williamson celebrates on the podium after winning the men\u2019s 100m breaststroke final with Jersey\u2019s Filip Nowicki and England\u2019s Adam Ramsay-Peaty. Photograph: Phil Noble\/Reuters<\/p>\n
After he collected his medal he kissed his wife, Holly, whose baby is due in December, on the belly. That recollection at least brought a smile. \u201cShe\u2019s always going to be proud of me,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd as a father, it doesn\u2019t matter if you come home with gold. As long as you come home with a teddy. That\u2019s really what matters.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I\u2019m never going to be afraid to show weakness, because it\u2019s so important for making stronger people, making stronger men, stronger fathers, husbands. And it\u2019s a realisation of how much I do work. This cycle especially, I\u2019m like: \u2018Shit, how have I worked this hard at this age?\u2019 And then you get a result like that, I\u2019m like: \u2018I\u2019m better than that.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I can\u2019t really put in where it went wrong. Maybe it\u2019s just an off swim. Or maybe it is just because I\u2019ve been two years out of the championships and heat semi-finals. But it does hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n
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