‘Nothing makes sense’ – Ramsay-Peaty beaten again
Adam Ramsay-Peaty, the three-time Olympic champion, finished with bronze in the 50m breaststroke at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, having also taken bronze in the 100m two days earlier. The result continues a difficult spell for the swimmer, who admitted he could not explain his underperformance, saying "nothing makes sense this week". His struggles are notable given his status as the greatest breaststroker in history and reigning Commonwealth 50m champion, raising questions over his form ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where the event will feature for the first time.
Australia's Sam Williamson won gold in 26.50 seconds, with South Africa's Michael Houlie taking silver, while Ramsay-Peaty, 31, touched in 26.94 seconds, 0.44 seconds behind the winner. He said he felt he was "working way too hard" without seeing it reflected in results and needed to "adjust course". The Englishman has changed coaching set-ups since the Paris 2024 Olympics, moving from long-time coach Mel Marshall (who relocated to Australia) to Repton in Derbyshire and now to Lisa Bates in London, insisting he is happy with his current training despite stressing that improvements take years, not months.
- Ramsay-Peaty takes 50m breaststroke bronze, his second bronze of the Games
- Australia's Sam Williamson won gold; Ramsay-Peaty trailed by 0.44 seconds
- Swimmer admits confusion over poor form ahead of 2028 Olympics
New here? Start with this
Adam Ramsay-Peaty is England's greatest breaststroke swimmer, having won three Olympic gold medals across multiple Games. The 31-year-old is widely regarded as the finest breaststroker in history and has dominated international swimming for over a decade. Breaststroke is one of the sport's four main competitive strokes, with Ramsay-Peaty particularly celebrated for his performances in the shorter distances.
Since the 2024 Paris Olympics, Ramsay-Peaty has changed his coaching arrangements twice, most recently moving to a London-based coach. Coaching transitions are a normal part of elite athletic preparation but can take several months to show their full benefits in competition. Ramsay-Peaty has stated that his current training environment is satisfactory but that meaningful improvements take time.
The immediate context for interest in Ramsay-Peaty's performances is the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where the 50-metre breaststroke will feature as an Olympic event for the first time. His historical dominance in this distance means he is expected to be a medal contender at those Games. At 31, swimmers typically build towards peak performance during Olympic years, making his development over the coming months a matter of close attention.