The return to the Olympics for Adam Peaty was not what he had dreamed of. He ended up with a joint silver medal in Paris, finishing behind Italy's Nicolo Martinenghi in a race that was slow and nerve-wracking, decided by the tiniest of margins and pure instinct to touch the wall at the perfect moment.
He managed to outmaneuver world champion Qin Haiyang, but just when it seemed like he had the victory in the bag, a close finish and a surprise move from out of sight by Martinenghi stole the win, denying him the chance to become like Michael Phelps and be the only man to win three consecutive gold medals at the Olympics in individual events.
Of course, Peaty is disappointed not to have won gold, but let's not underestimate how this British great has managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat after going through such a tumultuous period in his life following the Tokyo Olympics.
"Not at all sad," Peaty insisted. "If you're willing to take a risk, there's no such thing as a failure."
"I am content with getting a silver medal. After all, it's just a sport. I got caught off guard, but that's just the way it is. This entire journey, which has lasted 14 months, is not about winning a medal. I define myself by my heart, by the emotions it has made me feel, and by what it has enabled me to achieve. It has brought out the best in me."
"Sport has broken me, but it has also given me life and everything I am. Would a fairytale ending have been perfect? Of course, but it just wasn't meant to be."
In Paris, a third consecutive gold medal eluded him, as this agonizing finish came despite Qin Haiyang, the reigning world champion, being overtaken by him in the final 50 meters. This result secured his second-place finish, with Nic Fink of the USA coming in at 59 minutes and 0.05 seconds, just 0.02 seconds shy of achieving immortality.
Contrary to what many had expected, it was not the intense head-to-head competition with Qin that dominated the scene. Despite the intimidating showdown on the starting blocks between the two, which is more commonly associated with combat sports, Qin was completely out of the running, finishing a disappointing seventh.
Since his remarkable performance at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where he shattered the record for the fastest time in history and successfully defended his Olympic title, Peaty's journey has been challenging one. However, there were early indications of what he would later describe as a "self-destructive" downward spiral.
The following year, a broken foot set him back, and he ultimately withdrew from the British Championships in early 2023, citing mental health concerns. His absence had a significant impact on the men's 100m breaststroke, an event he had redefined with his world record, which was an astonishing full second faster than the competition. His absence created an opening for others, and Qin Haiyang eagerly seized the opportunity. The 25-year-old joyfully ascended to the throne during his absence, claiming a trio of highly coveted gold medals at last year's World Championships.
If Pettigrew is knocked down, a powerful combination will reignite the fire from within and ensure his recovery. Pettigrew was very angry when he saw Qin collect the medals he regarded as his own, and many people believed that the 25-year-old would easily take over in Paris. This assumption infuriated Pettigrew.