Crossroads after bronze in Glasgow
The career of Olympic legend Adam Ramsay-Peaty stood at a crossroads today after he finished third in his best event at the Commonwealth Games. He admitted nothing makes sense after he again had to settle for bronze in the 50m breaststroke.
The 31-year-old was beaten by Aussie Sam Williamson who took his second gold with victory in the 50m after claiming the 100 crown on Saturday. Ramsay-Peaty was also third in the 100m, the event in which he remained unbeaten for eight years from 2014 to 2022.
His estranged mum has said she still loves and supports him after he broke down in tears at the Commonwealth Games. Mum Caroline posted a statement saying:
He's our son whom we love, whom we supported to reach his aspirations. Our strength as a family has helped us move past the nastiness, the lies that have been told about us.
His son was tearful then but less emotional after his latest setback. He said:
I thought that I could have done better there. I just felt like I could have been a little bit quicker. I am quite disappointed with the time and as we know, time equals medals.
I need to look at that to see where I am going wrong because nothing makes sense at the moment to be honest.
Ramsay-Peaty announced his comeback for the 2028 Olympics after a break following the Paris Games last year. He said that the 50m was his 'super strength'. He won the gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with a time of 58:84 then set the Games record, which still stands, four years later at 58:59. That time would have comfortably delivered gold at Glasgow.
Now he faces a decision on his future with another two years of training before the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, when he will be 33 years old.
For Scot Archie Goodburn, 25, and his family, the 50m breaststroke race against Ramsay-Peaty was a highly emotional event, regardless of the result. He was diagnosed three years ago with a rare, inoperable form of brain cancer.
Doctors said he had Oligodendrogliomas, which accounts for roughly three per cent of all primary brain tumours. After his terminal diagnosis, he made it his mission to raise as much awareness as possible about the condition. Last year, he gained access to Vorasidenib – a breakthrough new treatment he helped campaign for – which delayed the need for chemotherapy. That decision enabled him to compete in Glasgow in front of home fans.
Holding back the tears, he said:
I’m disappointed with that final. But I’m feeling extremely privileged and very fortunate and very blessed to have even had the chance to take part against such a competitive field. It’s really difficult to execute well under pressure. I’m going to look back on this as a pretty incredible moment in my life.
The reception was monumental. That was the next level. I wonder how I will feel on the back of all this. But I know that I have memories to last a lifetime.
Goodburn's emotional night in front of home fans
For Archie Goodburn of Scotland, the meeting with Ramsay-Peaty carried meaning well beyond the result. Archie Goodburn of Scotland who was diagnosed with a rare, inoperable form of brain cancer three years ago was able to race on home soil after his treatment breakthrough and his campaign to raise awareness for the condition.
Last year, he gained access to Vorasidenib, the breakthrough treatment he had helped campaign for, and that delayed the need for chemotherapy. That gave him the chance to compete in Glasgow in front of home fans, turning the race into one of the most emotional moments of the Commonwealth Games.
