Adam Peaty: The secrets behind his record-breaking swimming technique
How gym work, good posture and an ability to maintain stroke rate have turned him into a champion
British swimmer Adam Peaty set two world records in one day at the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest.
The Olympic champion twice broke his own world-best time in the 50m breaststroke, first in the heats and then the semi-final, becoming the first person to swim the distance in 25.95secs
Having already claimed gold in the 100m breaststroke, it would come as a huge shock if Peaty does not add the 50m winner's medal to his tally in today's final.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
His achievements, says the BBC, include:
- breaking the 50m breaststroke world record four times - the first in Berlin in 2014;
- holding the top ten times in the world for the 100m breaststroke;
- swimming a 100m world record of 57.13 at the Rio Olympics in 2016;
- attempting to become the first swimmer to break the 57-second mark in the 100m breaststroke, a challenge he refers to as "Project 56", and
- being part of the British 4x100m mixed medley relay team which broke the world record for a second time at the 2015 World Championships
Seven-time Olympic gold medallist Mark Spitz tells the London Evening Standard Peaty is now only swimming against the clock as his rivals cannot catch him.
"Peaty's dominance is rubber-stamped as soon as he hits his stride, thanks to rock-like technique," says the paper.
Spitz adds: "A lot of breaststrokers when they come up for their breath, it looks like their heads are going up and down but there is motion to the left and right. He is a swimmer that doesn’t have that."
After his Olympic success last year, Peaty revealed some of his secrets to the Daily Telegraph, saying he ate up to 8,000 calories a day while training and did much of his work in the gym, not the water.
"Once you are in the water, it becomes quite easy to hold your position so you have to do most of your core strength training in the gym," he said.
"People get confused about swimming technique, but the secret to a good breaststroke is to use your legs as much as possible. About 70 per cent of your power comes through your legs so they are your main tools in the breaststroke."
Swimming World highlights another key aspect of Peaty's technique: the speed of his stroke.
Despite being taller than many of his rivals, the 22-year-old Uttoxeter man "is still able to take more strokes and maintain a higher stroke-rate than his nearest competitors without compromising his line", says the magazine.
At the Olympics, he began races at the rate of 60 strokes a minute and only dropped off to 55 strokes after 50m. Most of his rivals start slower and drop off more.
"Peaty’s ability to maintain stroke rate is unprecedented, even compared to the other medalists," says Swimming World.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Mary Poppins tour: 'humdinger' of a show kicks off at Bristol Hippodrome
The Week Recommends Stefanie Jones and Jack Chambers are 'true triple threats' as Mary and Bert in 'timeless' production
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Jaguar's stalled rebrand
In the spotlight Critics and car lovers are baffled by the luxury car company's 'complete reset'
By Abby Wilson Published
-
What the chancellor's pension megafund plans mean for your money
Rachel Reeves wants pension schemes to merge and back UK infrastructure – but is it putting your money at risk?
By Marc Shoffman, The Week UK Published
-
Will a death at the CrossFit Games change the sport?
Today's Big Question CrossFitter Lazar Dukic drowned during a competition earlier this month
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
The 'Enhanced Games': a dangerous dosage?
Talking Point A drug-fuelled Olympic-style competition is in the works but critics argue the risks are too high
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Swimming’s governing body bans trans athletes from elite women’s races
Talking Point Fina may introduce an ‘open’ category to allow trans swimmers to compete at highest level
By The Week Staff Published
-
Pool party: golden ‘new era’ for British swimming
feature Team GB swimmers made a splash at the Tokyo Olympics
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Why everyone’s talking about Sun Yang
Speed Read Chinese swimmer will appeal eight-year ban but the Olympic champion’s career looks over
By The Week Staff Published
-
Swimmer Adam Peaty warns Fina: ‘I don’t care, ban me if you’ve got to’
Speed Read Briton risks Olympic defence over backing of the International Swimming League
By The Week Staff Published
-
Golden boy Peaty eclipses Wilkie as Britain's greatest swimmer
Speed Read Rivals admit 22-year-old is performing on a different level after claiming fifth world title
By The Week Staff Published
-
Can anyone beat odds-on favourite Andy Murray to SPOTY?
In Depth The shortlist of 16 is dominated by stars of Team GB after this summers Olympics and Paralympics, with Murray clear favourite
By The Week Staff Published