Adam Peaty admits he faces some soul-searching after ‘devastating’ final defeat

Adam Peaty aims to rediscover his passion for swimming as he lamented a disrupted build-up to the Commonwealth Games after a shock defeat in the men’s 100 metres breaststroke final.

Hours after finishing fourth to end an eight-year unbeaten run in his favourite event, Peaty was back in the pool and reached the 50m semi-finals with the joint fastest time of 27.1 seconds in the heats.

Peaty was still digesting what occurred on Sunday night, however, admitting he may have burdened himself with expectation on his comeback from a broken foot he suffered in a training accident in May.

The 27-year-old also wondered whether his desire is as strong as it used to be, even if he remains committed to competing at the 2024 Olympics as he sent an ominous warning to his rivals.

“You back a lion into a corner, they’re going to bite. I’m backed into a corner now but I’m OK with that,” said the triple Olympic champion and the world record holder in the 50m and 100m breaststroke.

“It’s just as important in an athlete’s career to have these moments. You think do I want to be here? Do I love the sport as much as I did? I don’t know. Those questions, I have to address.

“I haven’t really had a winter block where I’ve reset. I haven’t even had chance to know where I’m going, it’s almost like you get in a car without a destination.

“I’ve only been in the water for four weeks, I put way too much expectation on myself and now I’m still debriefing and will be over the next three or four weeks.

I've still won every single championships, done all the world records, that hasn't been taken away from me, I've just had one bad day in the office- Adam Peaty

“Maybe it’s God’s will to get to this point to have this real low because it is a real low.