2020 vision: Adam Peaty puts his sole focus on Tokyo

The 23-year-old won Olympic gold in the 100 metres breaststroke at the Rio Olympics in such dominant fashion that it astounded even Michael Phelps.

Peaty is unbeaten over 100m breaststroke for four years and reminded he had targeted the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, Peaty admitted his focus is squarely on the immediate future.

“It’s all about Tokyo,” Peaty said.

“2028 is a long, long time away. I’ve re-thought my long-term goals. I’m just going to take each Olympic cycle as it comes and enjoy the little things. I took it for granted these last few years, where I took everything so seriously. I’ve started to chill out a lot more and enjoy it a lot more.”

With 50m breaststroke not on the Olympic programme, Peaty was contemplating adding 200m breaststroke to his schedule earlier this year.

He lost muscle mass in preparation for the move, and in no small part due to a shoulder injury which prevented him from bench-pressing in the gym.

Peaty said that was the end of the 200m plan “for now”.

He added: “I wanted to see what happened to my performance when I lost a bit of muscle. Obviously it didn’t go to plan.”

The latter observation hints at the expectations Peaty places on himself.

He won a second Commonwealth title in 58.84 seconds - a time he has repeatedly bettered during heavy training.

As the only man to have swum beneath 58 seconds and the possessor of the 11 fastest times in history, it was not sufficient to satisfy him.

Finishing second to Cameron van der Burgh over 50m breaststroke at the Commonwealth Games also stung the Uttoxeter swimmer.

Peaty is reluctant to make excuses for his Gold Coast performance, but says his preparation was hampered by a stretched bicep tendon which would only heal with complete rest.

“I had a little bit of a shoulder niggle. It just clicked out of place,” he said.

“I still posted a fast time when I wasn’t at my best. It was a loss, but I’ve got to see it as a silver lining.

“Sometimes you need a loss to regroup and see where you are.”

Peaty has often in the last four years been racing against the clock.

Now he appears to be readying himself for a challenge from rivals across Europe and the world.

“When I’m in the arena, I love racing and I know I can beat people,” he said.

“The world’s getting faster. The world is trying to catch up with me while I’m down.

“I’m looking to fight them off now and see where we’re at at the Europeans.”

James Wilby won Commonwealth 100m silver and 50m bronze, but Peaty insists his Loughborough team-mate is not likely to challenge over two lengths, with 200m his preference. Wilby won Commonwealth gold over in that discipline.

“There’s a lot of people faster than him, in Europe alone,” Peaty said.

“There’s a lot more people to think about on the 100. He’s more of a 200 swimmer.”

Adam Peaty was speaking at an Arena event ahead of the European Championships, Glasgow, August 3 to 9 www.arenawaterinstinct.com