Staffordshire's Olympic hero Adam Peaty withdraws from British Swimming Championship due to mental health reasons

The 28-year-old said he is “not enjoying the sport” as he has done previously and will not compete in next month’s championships in Sheffield.

Peaty believes his decision will help him prepare for next year’s Paris Olympics, where he will be hoping to defend the 100 metre breaststroke and 4×100 metre mixed medley golds he picked up at Tokyo 2020.

Peaty wrote on his social media accounts: “Everyone wants to sit in your seat until they have to sit in your seat… very few people understand what winning and success does to an individual’s mental health. They don’t understand the pressures these individuals put on themselves to win over and over again.

“As some people may know, I’ve struggled with my mental health over the last few years and I think it’s important to be honest about it.

“I’m tired, I’m not myself and I’m not enjoying the sport as I have done for the last decade.

“Some might recognise it as burnout; I just know that over the last few years I haven’t had the answers. With help, now I know how I can address the imbalance in my life.

“Whilst I am continuing to train, I have decided to withdraw from the British Swimming Championships next month. This is with the sole purpose of delivering the best performance possible in Paris at the 2024 Olympic Games.

“I’m hugely grateful for all the support I am receiving from my team and family at British Swimming along with my incredible sponsors, family and friends.

“As always, I thank the swimming community and beyond for the incredible support I’ve forever received.

“This sport has given me everything I am and I’m looking forward to finding the love I have for it again.”

Peaty suffered a setback in 2022 after breaking his foot in a freak training accident, but was able to recover in time and compete at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last summer.

A mixed Games saw him finish fourth in the 100m breaststroke – his first defeat in the event in eight years – but he bounced back 48 hours later to win gold in the 50m distance.