2016 Olympic gold medallist Adam Peaty of Great Britain will receive a homecoming parade in his birthplace of Uttoxeter, England on Saturday, October 1st to celebrate his achievements this summer in Rio.
Peaty was Great Britain’s first gold medallist of the 2016 Olympics, winning gold in the men’s 100m breaststroke on the second day of the swimming competition. He broke his own world record twice, ultimately finishing with a time of 57.13 in the final, 1.33 seconds faster than anyone else in history.
He also posted the fastest 100 breast relay leg in history in the 400 medley relay, helping his British teammates to a silver medal to finish with a pair of medals in his Olympic debut.
Peaty will travel through the streets of Uttoxeter on an open top bus to thank the fans for the support they’ve given him over the past few years in his rise to fame, especially this past summer during the Olympics.
He is looking forward to meeting as many people as possible as he travels around his hometown, and invites everyone to line the streets and celebrate his achievements.
Fellow British Olympian Keri-Anne Payne, who competed in the 10 KM Marathon event in Rio, believes Peaty’s gold medal winning swim will create a legacy in British Swimming for years to come.
Peaty has said he was inspired by Great Britain’s swimming contingent at the 2012 Games, and Payne believes Peaty’s accomplishments in 2016 can inspire the next generation of swimmers in Britain.
“I think it’s absolutely incredible for British Swimming and Great Britain as a whole to have someone like Adam Peaty,” said SportsAid ambassador Payne.
“Britain has such a strong breaststroke background, with the likes of (London 2012 Olympic silver medalist) Michael Jamieson and Craig Benson, and that creates youngsters who, with the right kind of willpower and coaching, they’re inspired by them and they want to beat them.
“Adam was inspired by Michael from the London Olympics and four years on, he’s now the World champion, Olympic champion, world record holder, he has everything in such a short space of time.
“I think having people like Adam will only inspire more and more kids, certainly in Britain, to think they can do the same and be like him.
“His coaching partnership with Mel Marshall is great, she’s a fantastic coach and she’s really let him thrive and helped him along that journey, being a former Olympic swimmer herself.
“They are a good team and I hope we can see more coaching teams like that where it is very much athlete and coach-driven, rather than a one-way street.
British swimmers had their best Olympic performance since 1908, with a total of one gold and five silver medals to show for their efforts.
Payne believes the success in Rio is just the beginning as they head towards Tokyo.
“I think Rio is the start of something great for Britain in the pool,” she said. “Tokyo will certainly be something amazing to watch as there are pockets of athletes who are just coming through with a want and a desire to win and be as good as their idols.
“For many of the team, it was their first Olympic experience and they’ve got another four years just to push on and shine.”
Read the full article on Payne’s thoughts here.
For more info on Peaty’s homecoming parade click here.