Adam Peaty in Favor of Adding Mixed Relays to Tokyo 2020 Schedule

KAZAN, RUSSIA - AUGUST 05: (L-R) Adam Peaty, Chris Walker-Hebborn and Siobhan-Marie O'Connor of Great Britain celebrate winning the gold medal in a new world record of 3:41.71 in the Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay Final on day twelve of the 16th FINA World Championships at the Kazan Arena on August 5, 2015 in Kazan, Russia. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

Photo Courtesy: Adam Pretty

Editorial content for the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games coverage is sponsored by GMX7.
See full event coverage. Follow GMX7 on Instagram at @GMX7training #gmx7

The International Olympic Committee will decide on Friday, June 9, if they want to add any extra medal events to the Tokyo 2020 schedule. FINA has proposed adding 10 extra events, including the 50s of each stroke along with the mixed relays and the men’s 800 and women’s 1500.

Swimming World has already asked other coaches what they thought of the proposed events by FINA. Some of the coaches have expressed interest in adding the distance events first, rather than the mixed relays. One well-known swimmer has expressed approval in adding the mixed relays, claiming it “would add spice.”

Olympic gold medalist Adam Peaty from Great Britain told the BBC that he thinks the introduction of mixed events would make the Olympics “more fun.”

“It’s something that would make things [at the Olympics] a little bit more fun,” Peaty said. “Obviously it’s very serious, but it’s great to mix things up from what they’ve been for so long as it adds a little spice and they’re great to watch.”

The IOC believes adding mixed relays will promote gender equality. They were added at the short course world championships in 2014 and the long course version in 2015. Peaty was a member of the inaugural winning 4×100 mixed medley relay team with Chris Walker-Hebborn, Siobhan O’Connor and Fran Halsall at the 2015 FINA World Aquatics Championships. The United States won the inaugural mixed 4×100 free relay at those championships

The success of the 4x400m mixed event at the recent World Relays in the Bahamas increased the possibility of mixed athletics competitions entering the Tokyo Games. Swimming is not the only sport that has proposed adding mixed events as archery, judo, modern pentathlon, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon and synchronised swimming are some of the other sports known to have proposed mixed events.

Over 11,000 athletes competed in over 300 medal contests in the 2016 Rio Olympics, and the IOC is believed to be leaning towards keeping the 2020 Tokyo Olympics at the same size. Adding the mixed relays however, would be adding another medal event for present swimmers at the Games.

Peaty has also expressed interest in the addition of the 50 stroke events to the Olympic schedule. Peaty is the world record holder in the 50 breaststroke. “Everyone loves the 50s because they’re so close and tight, so the more 50s and more events the better really,” Peaty told the BBC.

As part of its ‘Agenda 2020’ program, the IOC is also looking at ways of ‘better appealing’ to younger audiences. The addition of the 50 stroke events could draw in more non-swimming fans to the sport.

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*

5 Comments

Oldest

Newest Most Voted

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Swimming Pool Lovers

6 years ago

Nice

Shaheen Alghofari

6 years ago

Finally a relay GB have a chance of winning Joe Stott

James Hooper

6 years ago

He would have been in favour of adding the 50 breaststroke as well…

Jojob

6 years ago

No, Adam Peaty, everybody doesn’t like the 50s. I happen to think the four strokes are absolutely amazing looking when done well. We already have the 50 free. I don’t need to see more flailing in the water. Should Track and Field add a 50m sprint for the Olympics? That would be an exercise in chaos. The 50s already have a valuable place in age group swimming. In 50s, the importance of the start gets unduly magnified, versus the stroke itself. 50s don’t belong at the elite level.
I’d like to see the 1500m instead of the 800m for women before anything else. I see it as insulting that women don’t have the 1500m.

Jojob

6 years ago

Reply to Jojob

Well how about that! I just came across another article on the new events, and the 1500m for women will be part of the 2020 Olympics. ’bout time!