Adam Peaty reveals illness after being denied historic gold
Adam Peaty missed out on a third Olympic 100 metre breaststroke title by two hundredths of a second as Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi claimed a stunning gold.
Staffordshire’s Peaty, bidding to become only the second man after Michael Phelps to become triple Olympic swimming champion in the same event, had to settle for silver after a thrilling race at La Defense Arena.
The 29-year-old appeared to have gold within his grasp with 25 metres remaining only for Martinenghi to pip him on the line from lane seven, touching just in front of the GB man in a time of 59.03.
Peaty finished on the same time as Nic Fink, who took bronze, with China’s Qin Haiyang - considered to be Peaty’s main rival for gold, only seventh.
"In my heart I have won. These are happy tears,” an emotional Peaty, who came close to quitting the sport altogether last year, told the BBC after getting out of the pool.
More interestingly, in relation to the result at least, he later revealed to having woken up on Sunday morning with a sore throat. In a race so close, it was probably the difference.
“I had a curve ball this morning with my throat but that is not an excuse,” he said. “It is something I just had to respond to it.
