Adam Peaty made his competitive comeback on Saturday evening at the Edinburgh International Swim Meet, finishing fourth in the 100 metres breaststroke with a time of 1:00.74.
The 31-year-old triple Olympic gold medallist was returning to major long-course competition for the first time since representing Great Britain at the Paris 2024 Games.
The event also marked his first significant race since tying the knot with Holly Ramsay, daughter of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, in December.
Despite leading at the halfway point, Peaty was unable to maintain his pace in the closing stages of his signature event.
Peaty clocked an impressive 28.06 seconds at the halfway mark, demonstrating his characteristic explosive start before fading on the return length.
The race was claimed by Filip Nowacki, a promising 19-year-old swimmer from Millfield, who touched the wall in 1:00.26.
Gregory Butler secured second place with 1:00.37, whilst teenage competitor Max Morgan rounded out the podium in 1:00.54.
Peaty’s performance sits nearly four seconds adrift of his own world record, the 56.88 seconds he achieved during his peak form at a competition in South Korea back in 2019.
Adam Peaty made his competitive comeback on Saturday evening
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The couple’s romance began in 2021 after they were introduced by Holly’s sister, Tilly, who appeared alongside the swimming champion on Strictly Come Dancing.
Their engagement was announced in September 2024, following Peaty’s Olympic campaign in the French capital.
The wedding ceremony took place at Bath Abbey last December, with former England football captain David Beckham among the high-profile guests in attendance.
However, the celebration was overshadowed by reports of an ongoing dispute between Peaty and his mother, Caroline, which led to her being banned from the wedding.
The event also marked his first significant race since tying the knot with Holly Ramsay
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Caroline shared emotional posts regarding “dark times”, “self-worth,” and the importance of active grandparents, following the family feud.
She has expressed her “pain” over the situation, and suggested that she still loves her son and would have attended the wedding if invited
The pair had been engaged for over a year before finally exchanging their vows at the historic venue.
Peaty has set his sights on two significant competitions during the summer months ahead.
The wedding ceremony took place at Bath Abbey last December
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The Glasgow Commonwealth Games in July represent his primary target, with the European Championships in Paris following shortly afterwards.
To prepare for his return to Edinburgh, the double Olympic breaststroke champion travelled to Australia’s Gold Coast last month for an intensive training block.
He reunited with his former coach, Mel Marshall, during the camp, working to rebuild his competitive edge ahead of the busy season.
The 31-year-old will be hoping to close the gap on his rivals before the major championships commence later this year.
