Adam Peaty: “I’ll Swallow My Pride” for London Roar At Swim League Debut

Adam Peaty - Photo Courtesy: SIPA USA

Adam Peaty Set For London Roar debut

The International Swimming League (ISL) shifts back to Europe for its fourth match of the inaugural season. Superstar Adam Peaty is excited for his ISL debut in Budapest, while home team Iron is ready to take on Peaty’s London Roar.

Adam Peaty is the best breaststroker in the world over 50 and the 100m – and how! He is the Olympic and World Champion; holds the world records in both events, long-course. The 200? It’s been a while since he even raced one, let alone in a short course pool. His personal best dates back to the 2017 European Short Course Championships, where he finished 13th with 2:07.34.

But these days, its all about the team, the captain of London Roar says on the day before his debut in the Swim League, the first global pro-team event in swimming history.

It is with ‘team’ in mind that serial winner Peaty will step up in the 200 as well. He’s stepping in for a man who has excelled for Australia and Roar this year: Matthew Wilson, who set the World record over 200m in semis at world titles on the way to silver in the final behind Anton Chupkov (Russia and Energy), was Roar’s winner over 200m at last week’s ISL stop in Lewisville, Texas.

No Wilson in Budapest. Peaty, lion tattoo draped from shoulder, will have to do! Says the 24-year-old pace pioneer:

“ISL is all about strategy, sometimes you might have to take a defeat for strategy, sometimes I got to swallow my pride. I know where my strengths are, I know my weaknesses, and its applying those to the team and being very smart about it. I know the 200 will be hard to win tomorrow because it is back to back to back, and I never do three races in one session. But not doing it would just be the wrong attitude to use.”

Peaty sat out the first match of the London Roar last weekend because of a training camp with the British team. But he was “very impressed” with his teams results. With a total of 18 wins out of 37 events the London Roar took 484.5 points to Budapest, keeping the LA Current at bay (457 points). Team Iron follows with 402 points ahead of the New York Breakers (278.5).

“It all comes down to using this momentum for us, propelling ourselves forward and not to get complacent,” says Peaty, who has fond memories of the Danube Arena. This is where he defended his first world titles 2017; where he confirmed his status as the most dominant breaststroker in the world. Says Peaty looking about the venue:

“Budapest is always a great crowd. I have a big fan base here.”

Iron Lady Looking To Budapest Crowd For Boost

Katinka Hosszu says Iron will surface in Budapest – Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

The swimmer sitting next to him in the press conference has an even bigger one: triple Olympic champion Katinka Hosszu, captain of Iron, will be racing in her home pool and will be looking to the crowd to motivate her team to do battle with the top two teams in the group, Roar and Current. Says Hosszu:

“I am actually nervous, which I have not been in a while. It was getting a bit boring for me these last years, honestly, but now I am really excited.”

Iron got off to a bumpy start last week, but recovered fairly quick. On the second day in Lewisville they were not too far adrift Roar and Current, courtesy of the triple-points Skins wins of sprinters Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Vladimir Morozov.

A repeat performance from the Iron sprinters would go a long way to moving Iron up in the final standings, important because only the top two teams of Europe and of the USA advance to the league’s final in Las Vegas on December 20-21.

Hosszu believes the swim-crazy Hungarian fans can help Iron beat Roar. She says: “We are ready to beat London now.” That would take some crazy performances, too. Hold tight.

Meet details

What: Fourth competition of the International Swimming League’s inaugural season
Who: LA Current, NY Breakers, Team Iron, London Roar
When: Saturday and sunday, October 16th and 27th, 7pm
Where: Budapest, Hungary

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

Name*

Email*

4 Comments

Oldest

Newest Most Voted

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Liz Hudson

4 years ago

Love that the ISL is making team players of these guys. Excited to see how much (if) this changes the Olympics.

Emily Victoria

4 years ago

Lewis McColl big boyo does the 200 ?

Lewis McColl

4 years ago

Reply to Emily Victoria

Short course as well

Todd Melton

4 years ago

Love ISL but they really need to post the times for everyone not just first place!