Ramsay-Peaty struggles with form as he claims Commonwealth Games bronze in Glasgow
The three-time Olympic champion finished 0.44 seconds behind Australian gold medallist Sam Williamson in the 50m breaststroke, adding to his earlier bronze in the 100m event.
Adam Ramsay-Peaty has secured a bronze medal in the 50m breaststroke at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, finishing 0.44 seconds behind Australian gold medallist Sam Williamson. South Africa’s Michael Houlie took silver in the event, which Ramsay-Peaty completed in 26.94 seconds. The result marks the second consecutive bronze for the 31-year-old, following his performance in the 100m breaststroke earlier in the week.
Ramsay-Peaty, who was the defending Commonwealth champion in the 50m, expressed significant confusion regarding his performance despite rigorous training efforts. Speaking to BBC Sport, he stated that "nothing makes sense" regarding his inability to achieve his best times. He described his current workload as unsustainable, noting, "I am working way too hard. If those results were how much I am working then they would be a lot better."
The English swimmer, widely regarded as the greatest breaststroker of all time, had previously held an eight-year unbeaten streak in the 100m breaststroke and held world records in both the 50m and 100m events. However, he acknowledged that his current form is not aligning with his efforts, describing the situation as "sailing in some rough seas" and indicating a need to adjust his course.
In response to these challenges, Ramsay-Peaty has relocated his training base back to London to work with coach Lisa Bates. This move follows a period where he trained at Repton in Derbyshire under Mel Marshall, who relocated to Australia in 2024. Ramsay-Peaty expressed satisfaction with his new environment, stating he is "very, very happy" with his training setup and emphasising that improvements require long-term investment rather than quick fixes.
Looking ahead, Ramsay-Peaty is adjusting his approach to prepare for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where breaststroke events have been added to the schedule. He indicated that the shorter distance provides his best chance of a medal in Los Angeles given his age, though he admitted disappointment in the time achieved in Glasgow. He concluded that while the medal dream may not have been fully realised in this instance, he remains committed to the long-term process.
In other results at the Games, England’s Brock Whiston won gold in the women’s 200m breaststroke SB8 final, with 15-year-old Iona Winnifrith taking bronze. Amalie Smith, 16, secured silver in the women’s 200m individual medley final, and the England women’s 4x200m freestyle relay team, comprising Freya Colbert, Abbie Wood, Leah Schlosshan, and Freya Anderson, won silver.
