Peaty books EA Championships Paris 2026 places with 100m and 50m breaststroke double in London
Adam Peaty laid down a mighty marker in the Aquatics GB Championships tonight as he followed his 100m breaststroke win with victory in the 50m breaststroke, earning European Aquatics Championship qualification for both events.
The 31-year-old – who took an extended break after missing a third consecutive Olympic 100m breaststroke gold by 0.02 at the Paris 2024 Games – finished strongly to take gold in 26.64 ahead of 18-year-old Filip Nowacki, who also earned a Paris 2026 50m place in clocking 27.10, 0.03 inside the qualifying time.
“It’s a little bit better than this morning,” Peaty commented poolside after his win.
“I’ve given everything on this preparation, and the most exciting thing is the future now. The next few months will hopefully get that down because the world is a lot more competitive and that’s the reason I wake up every day.
“When you experience a lot of pain you know where to put it. And it doesn’t matter how long you got off, there’s a message there for the crowd that everyone is on their own journey, and for me I know these next two years, I’m going to use that and also show a lot of love to the sport and give back as much as possible.
“But you know what, I want to be on top of that (Olympic) podium in two years’ time.”
Peaty, world record holder in the 50m and 100m breaststroke, had clocked 58.97 in his opening event at the London Aquatics Centre, earning his first European qualification and also booking a place at this year’s Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
He announced after his 100m win: “Paris is a stepping stone and I want to do well, but LA is the big one for me.”
Double world and European junior champion Nowacki, who beat Peaty over 100m in Edinburgh last month as the latter athlete made his long course comeback, also qualified for Paris in the 100m breaststroke as he followed Peaty home in 59.39.
Mike Rowbottom for European Aquatics
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