
Peaty targets four gold medals at 2028 Olympics
Peaty took a break from swimming after winning silver in the 100m breaststroke at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. He previously took an extended break from sport in 2023 to prioritise his mental health after experiencing a "major, major burnout". However, while "the athlete in my head" is missing not competing at the ongoing World Championships in Singapore, Peaty has a clear plan for his return to competition and is training "a lot smarter" as an older athlete."I made the call in January or February, when I started to get back into training, that this Worlds wouldn't be for me because it would be too rushed," Peaty said. "I want to be at the [2026] Commonwealth Games. I want to be at the Europeans next year. I'm never going to take my spot for granted - just because I've got a world record doesn't mean I'm going to be there, it's ridiculous. I've got to earn those places, which excites me. "I did some race prep before I came out here to see where I'm at and we're in a good place for October World Cups in America and Canada."On his training, he added: "If you'd told me 10 years ago I'd be doing a pilates session this morning, I would have said 'no way'. "I look back on certain camps and I was chasing numbers, I needed the outputs, the validation. But I wasn't swimming the smartest in my head in terms of recovery, mental health and the warning signs of what burnout looks like. "[Now] it's what I decide. This block [in Los Angeles], I know it's a holiday so I'm just going to see how I feel. When I get back into England I'm ramping up for the Commonwealth Games - 4km sessions, 4.5km - and that gives me the best results."
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Reuters
3 hours ago
- Reuters
Russia hopes swimming return paves way for end to sporting neutrality
LONDON, Aug 1 (Reuters) - One of the key figures behind diplomatic efforts that secured Russian swimmers' return to elite competition at this week's world championships is now hoping to end Russia's sporting neutrality as officials push for wider Olympic participation. The Russian Olympic Committee was banned for violating the Olympic Charter in relation to Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but some of its athletes competed as neutrals at last year's Paris Olympics and sports such as swimming are gradually welcoming more Russians back into the fold. Dmitry Mazepin, President of the Russian Aquatic Sports Federation and Vice President of the ROC, told Reuters he would do his best to ensure that Russian athletes compete under their national flag in time for the Los Angeles 2028 summer Olympics and urged the sporting community to end double standards. "If you are in the wrong sport, you will be punished," Mazepin said in a telephone interview, pointing to sports like tennis and ice hockey, where individuals have been allowed to continue competing, while many swimmers have been left out in the cold. "I'm happy for the moment that my athletes and swimmers can compete everywhere," he said. "Unfortunately with the neutral flag, but they can compete." Mazepin ceded majority control of Russian fertiliser giant Uralchem in March 2022 and was sanctioned by Britain, the EU and Canada after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He said negotiations on swimming participation included personal meetings with World Aquatics President Husain Al-Musallam and countering what he called "political" opposition from certain countries, particularly Nordic states. The doping scandals that plagued Russian sport for years no longer form a part of opposition to Russians' participation, Mazepin said. "It's always about political cases," Mazepin said. "We do not discuss any doping issues." Mazepin said sanctions have caused him problems, such as his being unable to attend the short course world championships in Budapest in December, or take meetings at IOC headquarters in Lausanne. He was, however, able to attend this week's World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. In October 2023, the IOC suspended the ROC for admitting regional sports organisations under the authority of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine as members. The four Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia were annexed after referendums that Western nations have dismissed as shams. Mazepin said the ROC had made changes, now structured by federation rather than geography, and was pushing the IOC to remove restrictions based on its new structure. A final decision will ultimately come down to new IOC President Kirsty Coventry, but previous IOC statements suggest any significant relief for Russia is unlikely while it continues to wage war in Ukraine. The IOC has condemned Russia's "senseless war", describing it as a violation of the Olympic Charter for which it holds the Russian and Belarusian states and governments solely responsible. Mazepin criticised what he views as another double standard - that nations involved in other conflicts around the world have not also been punished in sporting terms. "We, as the Russian sports community, are asking why we were punished and others were not touched," Mazepin said. Mazepin is also dreaming of a Russian return to Formula One. His son Nikita raced for the U.S.-owned Haas team before Russia invaded Ukraine and the deal was ended. Haas terminated a sponsorship contract with Russian potash producer Uralkali, then controlled by Mazepin, in 2022 and repaid the balance last year after legal action and a visit by bailiffs at the Dutch Grand Prix. Mazepin said politics was still keeping Russia away from the sport for now. "But we are dreaming of a comeback," he said.


Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Dina Asher-Smith set sights on World Championship success in Tokyo after defending British title in photo finish
Dina Asher-Smith tuned up for Tokyo by defending her British 200 metres title — but only after a dramatic photo finish. The 29-year-old set a UK Athletics Championships record of 22.14sec to win in Birmingham on Sunday and seal her spot at next month's World Championships in Japan. However, Asher-Smith was pushed all the way by Amy Hunt, who finished fast to clock the same time as her more established team-mate and set a huge personal best. 'It was an excellent race,' said Asher-Smith, who is back training in London after a brief stint in Texas. 'Neither of us knew who had won so we needed that photo finish. But I am happy to come here and run a fantastic time.' Asher-Smith finished fourth in the 200m at last summer's Paris Olympics, but her time yesterday would have been good enough for bronze. Asked whether she can win a second world 200m title next month, six years after her only global gold in Doha, she said: 'I would love that. I am in great shape. 'That was a great run from me and there are a few things in there I can tweak, so I am happy.' Hunt finished second ahead of Daryll Neita — who was fifth at last year's Olympics — and moves above her to third in the all-time British rankings. 'I couldn't quite get the dip on the line but that was a serious time,' said the 23-year-old, who won the 100m on Saturday. 'I have moved up to third on the UK all-time, nearly overtaking Kathy Cook. It is really exciting to be taking the step up. Going to Tokyo and being a dark horse is super exciting.' In the men's 200m, Zharnel Hughes also broke the championship record as he stormed home in 19.90sec to complete a UK sprint double after his 100m win on Saturday. 'I'm excited to see what I can do in Tokyo,' said Britain's fastest man. 'I can go a lot faster. My coach will get me much sharper. There's still over a month to go.' Olympic 1500m bronze medallist Georgia Hunter Bell won the women's 800m yesterday, beating Jemma Reekie in a time of 1min 59.53sec. She must now decide whether to run both the 800m — which would put her up against her training partner Keely Hodgkinson — and 1500m in Tokyo, or focus on only one of the events. 'How cool would it be to follow in the footsteps of the great Britons like Seb Coe, Kelly Holmes and Steve Cram who doubled up and were successful?' said Hunter Bell. 'It's hard to decide.' Josh Kerr, who was already assured of his place in Tokyo as the world 1500m champion, stepped up in distance yesterday to win the men's 5,000m.


Reuters
7 hours ago
- Reuters
Hughes completes sprint double with 200m victory at UK Championships
MANCHESTER, England, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Zharnel Hughes stormed to victory in the men's 200 metres at the UK Athletics Championships on Sunday in Birmingham to complete the sprint double and secure a spot in that event at next month's World Championships in Tokyo. Hughes, who won the 100m on Saturday, clocked 19.90 seconds to break the competition record, becoming the first runner to duck under the 20-second barrier at a British championship. "Winning the 100m yesterday was pretty cool, but I wanted the 200m title more," Hughes said. "My coach will get me a lot sharper for the Championships - I'm excited to see what I can do in Tokyo." Dina Asher-Smith held off newly-crowned 100m champion Amy Hunt to win a women's 200m that was determined by a photo finish, with both clocking 22.14, also a championship record. "It was an excellent race, we needed a photo-finish because neither of us knew who had won," Asher-Smith said. "But I am happy to come here and run a low-22, it is a fantastic time." Daryll Neita, who was disqualified for a false start in Saturday's 100m -- but is still eligible to race that distance in Tokyo, according to UK Athletics -- was third in 22.30, to secure the 200m world qualifying time. Max Burgin won the men's 800m in a fast 1:43.92, while Olympic 1500m bronze medallist Georgia Hunter Bell clocked 1:59.53 to win her first British women's 800m title. Hunter Bell is undecided whether she will run the 800m or 1500m or both in Tokyo. "How cool would it be to follow in the footsteps of the great British athletes like Seb Coe, Kelly Holmes, Steve Cram, who did double up, and were successful – it's hard to decide," she said. World 1500m champion Josh Kerr moved up to the 5,000m and raced to victory in 13:44.73. "It was always going to be tough out there over the last mile but I really enjoyed the first eight laps," Kerr said. "That was fun."