Tokyo 2020 - Adam Peaty: Team GB star defends his decision to take a month break from swimming

ByEurosport

Updated 02/08/2021 at 06:00 GMT

Adam Peaty has been the poster boy for Team GB swimming at Tokyo 2020, who have won eight medals in the pool at the Games. Peaty has revealed he will be taking a month out of swimming to recharge physically and mentally. He has defended his decision to do so having faced backlash online. You want it? We have it. Stream every Olympic event live on discovery+.

Adam Peaty has defended his decision to take a month out of swimming to protect his physical and mental health before preparations get underway for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

The 26-year-old swimmer, who won two gold medals and a silver at Tokyo 2020, is set to miss the International Swimming League (ISL) which begins in September so that he can have a break ahead of World and European Championship and the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

After revealing his intentions, Peaty has spoken out having come under some criticism for his planned break online.

Tokyo 2020

Marathon Swimming - Men's 10km - Tokyo 2020 - Olympic Highlights

00:01:37

|

05/08/2021 at 04:19

• Peaty insists Paris talk 'doesn't matter' as GB make history with record swimming haul

“Reading some of the comments in response to this is why we have such a stigma around mental wellbeing in sport,” he wrote on Twitter.

“It isn’t a normal job. There is a huge amount of pressure. Money does not buy happiness.

“I’m taking a break because I’ve been going extremely hard for as long as I can remember. I’ve averaged 2 weeks off a year for the last 7 years.

Unfortunately there are people out there who think they know you more than you know yourself.

• Tokyo 2020 LIVE!
• 'Careless' Jackson out of 200m after after slowing down in final 50m

Peaty said that his break is to help him prepare for “a war of attrition”.

“It is going to be a war of attrition over the next three years,” he said.

‘You can literally achieve anything!’ – Peaty on the hard work behind GB medal rush

“We’ve got three major championships next season, and you’ll see people who are falling off, who go all the way through ISL and World Cups, by the time they get to Paris [2024 Olympics].

“You’re seeing it in all sports now. You’re seeing it with Simone Biles. You’re seeing it with Ben Stokes.

Mental health matters and it is about getting the balance right at that elite level. We love to celebrate, and why shouldn’t we?

‘Pain’ of silver will help us come back stronger for Paris 2024, says Peaty

- - -

Watch every unmissable moment live from Tokyo 2020 across Eurosport, the Eurosport app and discovery+. Download the Eurosport app for iOS and Android now.

Tokyo 2020

Peaty on mental health break – ‘People who aren't athletes don’t really understand’

03/08/2021 at 02:24