Swimming World’s Male Performance of the Year: Adam Peaty’s 100 Breast

Photo Courtesy: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports

When Adam Peaty broke his first world record in the spring of 2015, the time seemed impossible. Only 20 years old and having never competed at a World Championships or Olympics, Peaty cut more than half-a-second off Cameron van der Burgh’s 100 meter breaststroke standard of 58.46 and became the first man in history to crack the 58-second barrier (57.92).

Sixteen months and one World Championships later, Peaty arrived in Rio a heavy favorite for Olympic gold in his signature event and quickly proceeded to stun the crowd by dropping his world record to 57.55 in prelims. He barely missed breaking it again in semifinals with a 57.62, and in the final, he won gold in a stunning 57.13. He now has the top seven all-time performances.

Peaty’s winning time is 1.33 seconds faster than anybody else has ever swum, and he won gold by more than a second-and-a-half. Later in the week, while swimming the breaststroke leg of Great Britain’s silver medal-winning 400 medley relay, Peaty split 56.59—also the fastest ever.

Special Thanks to LumaLanes for sponsoring Swimming World’s Performance of the Week.

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HJ Oxie

7 years ago

Well deserved, this swim stood about all this year!

Robert Lewis

7 years ago

The night he won gold was the first night of my honeymoon…he made us so proud!

Donald P. Spellman

7 years ago

@adam_peaty
Agree. Truly mind blowing swims!

Sidney Tran

7 years ago

He has to be one of best breaststrokers who ever lived.

Joe Helmer

7 years ago

I’m holding my breath, waiting for a particular event to happen somewhere down the road. Thanks to Adam Peaty, the completely inconceivable, long course, 100m breaststroke, SUB 57 swim has been made conceivable.

Dave Nicholson

7 years ago

I’d actually argue his relay split was even more impressive than his individual win. Regardless, Peaty is on another planet when compared to his competitors.

Colm Joyce

7 years ago

Well done!

Anubhav Mishra

7 years ago

He was like a rocket in 4*100 M.R Rio!!!!

Samantha Mirra

7 years ago

Jamie Mirra my husband’s done it??