Swimmer Adam Peaty wins his first 50m breaststroke Commonwealth Games gold
Loughborough swimmer Adam Peaty has won the men's 50m breaststroke final at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The Commonwealth Games 50m breaststroke gold medal was the only champion title the double-Olympic gold medallist was missing in his impressive collection.
In the nail-biting final, Peaty finished with a time of 26.76 seconds just ahead of Australia's Sam Williamson who came second and Scotland's Ross Murdock who took home bronze.
The Uttoxeter-born swimmer is one of 5 British athletes to have previously won gold at all four major international events (the Commonwealth Games, the European Championships, the World Swimming Championships, and the Olympics).
He is the only swimmer to hold all four major gold medals in the same single event at the same time.
Peaty also holds the world record for the fastest 50m breaststroke and 100m breaststroke, his favourite event.
Speaking to ITV News, Peaty said sport is about coming back from the low moments and deciding to fight instead of giving up.
He said: "I did find a way tonight, I enjoyed it as well which is very important for me."
"It just shows you even when the odds are down you have to find a way - that's what sport's about, those lowest moments and reaching those low moments like I had the other day and go you know what I've got to find a way."
"There's no backing out of it because I could have easily gone I'm going home."
"I'm not in good shape and I could have easily been a victim but you know what I chose to be a victor and chose I was going to fight."
The swimmer looked ready to fight for the gold as he walked out behind the starting blocks. The English lion beat his chest twice before acknowledging the roaring crowd.
The 27-year-old has a strong start off the blocks and managed to finish with a comfortable victory.
Team England congratulated Peaty on his win after struggling earlier in the week.
In a Tweet, they said: "A sensational comeback and now a complete set, Adam Peaty is back."
The double-Olympic champion has struggled in the Birmingham 2022 Games after suffering a broken foot in May.
Peaty admitted he may have burdened himself with expectations on his comeback after winning gold in the men's 100m breaststroke 100m Toyko Summer Olympics last year, and from his injury in a training accident earlier this year.
The Games were Peaty's first swimming competition since injuring his foot and despite losing his 100m title he has won, for the first time, the Commonwealth 50m breaststroke title.
The now four-time Commonwealth Games champion lost his first race in eight years on Sunday (July 31st) during Birmingham 2022 Men's 100m breaststroke final which he described as "devastating".
Peaty placed fourth in the 100m breaststroke final behind English teammate James Wilby, who won gold and Australia's Zac Stubblety-Cook and Sam Williamson who placed second and third.
The 100m final results shocked Peaty who said he had just a couple of hours sleep before his 50m breaststroke heat after struggling to unwind after the loss.