Hi, and welcome back to the Jacuzzi Performance Podcast. I'm Ed Baxter, and today, we're joined by Commonwealth,  European, World, and Olympic champion, Adam Peaty. How you doing, Adam? 

 

Good, thanks for having me. 

A little bit of context for this podcast, it might be a little bit more personal than the other podcasts in this season. I've known Adam for a long time now, going on for about 5 or 6 years. We used to train together and are also now business partners. 

So if this is a little bit more personal than some of the other guests we have on the podcast, then that's why. I guess the best way to kick this off, Adam, is we don't want to focus too much around COVID, as we're coming out of lockdowns and things like that. 

But can you just sum up for us, personally as an athlete and then as a new father, how's the last year or so been for you? 

I think you've worded it perfectly, because I've seen COVID in different challenges, in different forms. As an athlete, obviously, it's been very difficult, with no racing, no competition, no training camps abroad. That's my fuel, it keeps my motivation going, keeps the momentum going throughout the season. But as a person, it's been the most difficult, not having friends, having the disruption of the family. Obviously, moving house before trials, trying to do everything for Olympics as best as I can, in preparation for as best as I can, and then throwing in being a new dad as well. You literally get a cocktail that is high-stress, just a lot of stuff going on. But, on a personal level, it's been very difficult. I'm not here to say, 'Oh, it's been easy, let's all get it done.’ It's been one of the most challenging times of my life. But I think with that, if you can get to the other side, it'll also be the most rewarding, knowing that you've gone through the hard times, you've gone through the trials and tribulations of this challenge that has been set upon us. 

Yes, definitely. We'll touch a little more on disruption around the Olympics and training in a little bit. But, you're just home from the European championships, you've just won your 16th consecutive European title, how are you feeling after that? 

Yes, good. I mean it's obviously 16 gold medals that I've built, and built throughout my career, and I intend to go back and defend the next year. So, being consecutive champion in anything is hard but doing it 4 times, you need to rely on a very good team as well. So I've got an amazing team behind me, I've got amazing team mates and as that team's developing, we're getting more mature, having more knowledge, and it's just fun. Europeans for me, I always thought it was going to be a bigger challenge than it was this year because people are racing fast all year round now because of ISL and various other reasons, but for me, all I needed to do was go out there, race as well as I can, under a bit of fatigue. Then, we're   obviously   going   to   propel   ourselves   onto   the Olympics now, so I'm excited knowing that the preparation is done and that's the most exciting thing you can have. Nail the process, and I know once I put a GB flag on me and put the 5 rings on there, that's just me, isn't it?

So I guess   that's   from   the   accolade   point   of  view,   but  from a personal performance and where you are in your journey, towards Tokyo   and   to   the   postponed   Olympics,   are   you   happy   with performance time-wise? Are you happy with where you're at right now? 

Yes, I mean, I'm never happy because I want a perfect race. But a perfect race does not exist, so it depends on if you look at the front, or you look at the back end, or you look at the middle of the race. There’re so many different variables in racing but I'm just happier with how the stroke is feeling. Especially the front end, I've never been as fast as I did at Europeans, under that kind of work. So, there's a lot to be hopeful for. I'm more excited now for life and that, for me, is a lot. That just gives me so much more than just turning up to the pool, having to do something. The sun's coming out, we're enjoying summer now, finally, and things are just looking and feeling good. I know once I look and feel good, and I'm a happy athlete, I'm a fast athlete, and I have that bit of a strut against me. So, you can overanalyse, you can get all the data, you can do all that, but that isn't my job. My job is to understand the data from the team, to let them digest it. What do I need to do? What do I need to work on? Done, cheers. 

 

So I guess knowing you from a personal perspective, that competition and when you get in that arena, that's when you really come alive. So that European championship is the first time that you've had that major championship feel in almost two years now. So did you feel starved from what keeps you going for sport? 

I've felt starved from competition ever since we had t stop early in 2020. But I think, again to the Europeans, it did feel good, but we still had no crowds. So I'm still starved for that roar that lights up the arena, because you do get out and literally, the ground shakes, it's that loud. And if you've got the acoustics   right   in   the   stadium, it just sounds incredible.

Breaststroke’s funny enough because you go down and it goes silent and then you bring your head up and you can hear the roar of the crowd, and yes, I'm still waiting for that moment. But, I've learnt and I've become an adaptable athlete. So, I adapt to what I need to adapt to, if I race with no crowd, I can race with no crowd. If I race with a crowd, then I can do that too. I think a lot of athletes are swimming fast now because there is no crowd, so they're going to have to practice their arena skills, but as soon as you put that crowd back in and that nerve, you'll see them fold because a lot of athletes can't manage that. You need to have the full mindset to manage the whole picture. 

So, where you've seen a lot of athletes swimming faster than usual, early season or leading up to the Olympics, do you think that might completely change if there are crowds at Tokyo? Do you think that'll change when the pressure really comes on them? 

Potentially, I think Olympics changes a lot of athletes anyway. For me, I've always come stronger in the Olympics, I know exactly what I'm racing for and why I'm doing it. I think a lot of athletes will go there with a lot of nerves, and maybe a little bit of doubt. It'll be the strongest athletes and the ones who deserve it, that'll come out successful. So, I mean, I'm not a crystal ball, I haven't got a should've, could've, would've ball. I don't know what's going to happen with the world, no one knows what's going to happen. But, for me, all I know is I get more confident the more people that are there. But even if there's no people there, I can still perform, I've proven that at ISL. I'm not a short course swimmer, but I still broke the world record. So that gives me confidence knowing that it doesn't matter what shape I'm in, all I need is two weeks and I can perform, anywhere, anytime. 

The way you're talking about this, it really soundsvery different to the way this conversation would've gone, maybe five years ago. As you get older, more experienced in this sport, is it very odd for you to be the veteran of the GB swimming team now compared to the young guy coming on to the scene? 

Yes, it's obviously different because I'm more mature, more calculated, and obviously that part of my brain where I was a young gun who didn't really care about the risk. I'm definitely more calculated because I have to be because I'm a dad now. So, my energy’s more valuable, my time is more valuable. And as an athlete, as you get older and you become more successful, there are other things that you used to worry about, such as money or deals and all that stuff, you don't have to worry about that because you've got such a great team around you. But you've still got to worry about your time and your energy. I think every person on Earth has, but that is the most valuable thing to me now, especially seeing George grow up as fast as he is. So, being a mature athlete, I don't think much has changed in terms of my personality. I'm still that kid who wants to get in that race suit, I'm still that kid who wants to win, I'm still that kid will literally do anything to win. I'll probably bite your ear off if I have to. But that's the guy you have to be in an Olympic final, you have to be willing to almost die for that because the next guy is probably willing to do that as well. 

This is really consistent every time we talk, last time when we were in the Jacuzzi® swim spa, it was exactly the same what you're saying, just about this kid inside you that wants to win more than anyone else. As you go through the career, it just still feels like that. 

Yes, I think you should never ever lose why you started something. If you love something and you've got a passion for it, you need to cling on to that, because as soon as you lose that and you lose that youth inside of you, it becomes a chore. So, there's been numerous times where I've lost that in swimming, I'm like, 'Why am I doing this? This is painful, this is hard,' and have to really, completely relax and figure out a way around it, instead of something that should be passive, something I should be enjoying. As soon as I found that again, I'm like, 'Okay, this is easy again.' I don't care how hard or intimidating the set might be because I'm enjoying it, I want to do it. I think if anything becomes monotonous or tedious, you have to question and really reflect on why have I been doing this for the last 10 years of my life because if it's something you hate, you know if it's temporary thing of course. We all hate our jobs sometimes, that's just natural, if you're doing something for 40 hours a week, 50 hours a week, of course you're going to hate it a lot of the time. But it's when you're hating it for weeks or months, maybe years unfortunately for some people. We need to start asking yourself, 'Why? Why did I do this? Why did I start this?', and sometimes you need a deeper reason. So if we go back to the European championships,you were the young guy coming onto the scene and you've really made your mark. As we've said, you're going into one of the veterans of GB swimming. As the whole team is starting to really perform and across all strokes, male, female, everyone's firing, do you feel a little bit like you've started that wave?  

I don't obviously want to take credit for anything, but I think if you're successful, you almost pave the way for the people in that team. It's like any team, it's all momentum. It's called momentum for a reason. It doesn't matter if you're a Premier League team or you do another sport or whatever. If you've got momentum and you continue winning, other people are going to be inspired. And if you can show the youth and show the young people who are on the team that you can be fearless, and you use your protest, use your brain, also use your heart, and carry that flag with pride, I think you've got a very, very unique but strong team. But I really do think it's down to the leadership on the British Swimming. We've got some great coaches, we've got some great people and we've got a great performance director, we've got a great head coach and people who lead British swimming, but also, we've got the relaxation that comes with that. I think, previously in the past, a lot of teams have been very serious like, 'You need to do this, or you get that. Well, you need to do this, you get a fine or you need to say this in the media or do that.' I'll say what I want in the media, it's me. Whereas before, I was a little bit intimidated by that. So, you've really got to question, 'Who am I? What do I represent in a team? Am I relaxed?' And if you can stay relaxed in the team, it doesn't matter where you are, you'll enjoy it. And sometimes I've felt very anxious because I've been worrying about the future too much, whereas now I just live in the present. I couldn't care less what's going to happen tomorrow because that isn't the present. I think if you can live like that, and it's not recklessness, it's having the preparation. Say, at the Olympics when you know it's going to be an Olympic final, a lot of people will be overthinking and thinking, 'Oh, the future. I need to do this. This has gone wrong in the past.' I'm like, 'You know, I'm going to get behind those black blocks and just stunt my chest, cheers.' And that is me and my flow. For four years, you've been really precisely preparing year after year on how you get to that perfect performance in Tokyo. 

How has that been, to completely have to adapt to? You thought you were going to be there and then a couple of months out, we've got another year and a few months to add on it. How's that precise preparation been changed? 

I think you have a lot of trust in your team. Obviously, Mel is a key to my success, if not the whole key. I've been with her now for 13 years and obviously, when that was announced I was like, 'Oh.' That's it, really. I knew, as soon as we went into lockdown, there wasn't going to be an Olympics, in the back of my mind. So, I was like, 'I'm going to enjoy this moment.' Enjoy Eirianedd's pregnancy with George. Enjoy that moment together because she got pregnant 2 months in with George. And I was like, 'You know what. We'll get to know each other and use this time to our advantage.' I know I probably drank more than I should, but it kept me sane, and it kept me normal. I'm not an indestructible athlete that doesn't have feelings. You know, you see first-hand as one of my best mates, how demanding this sport can be on someone. So it was good that we had that chance and that opportunity to do that, but yes, I was annoyed that it had been delayed, but we'll know in a few months' time if I'll go faster, or whatever happens, I can rest assured, I’ve given my full effort anyway. Again, if you live in that present, you don't get lost in what should have been or what could have been, because it's almost like it never even happened. Well, it didn't happen anyway. So, why are you even worrying about it? 

In the European Championships, for example, you Tweeted, 'Do we need a VAR and a fifth breaststroke?' There's some controversy over   the   last   year, especially   with   the   technical   aspects   of

swimming. So, can you tell us a little bit about that? 

You know I like this question, because I'm probably one of the only athletes that calls out the cheats. I mean, there's a handful of athletes in the world that have got a backbone. So, I think if you can call out the should never take away that opportunity for those athletes to speak out about something, because that's their only platform to be heard. But also, on the flip side of that, you're there to witness sport, you're there to witness performance. So, you don't want to overshadow someone who's worked their whole life, who's got a gold medal, and someone who's in bronze protesting. Because they're going to get all the attention, which really, should be attention for the whole of the medallists, if not all the finalists. So, there's a flip side to everything and unfortunately, there's not a simple answer to, 'They should do this, or they shouldn't do that.' But I don't think the IOC should be saying you can't protest because that's just going to make people want to protest more.  The athletes are the ones who give the performance and give the

show to the viewers, and they're the ones that make the IOC and these organisations look so good. And I think, as an organisation, if you try and take that away from athletes, I think that makes athletes

feel worthless almost. Yes, and I think athletes are some of the most strong-hearted people because that's the way we're wired. If we're going to do something, we're going do it right. But I've been vocal ever since I started swimming. You know, 'This isn't right' or, 'That isn't right. Why have they done that? And why has this decision been made?' for example. But I think in anything, we're becoming a world now where we're not afraid to speak up. I think, in the past, there has been lots of issues where people are afraid to speak up, especially if you're an athlete because there's repercussions in terms of sponsors who will pull out if you say something wrong. But if you can have the right sponsors and hopefully, if you do have the right sponsors, they'll support you no matter what. And hopefully it's not something   that's   outrageous   but,   for   me,   I   only   say   something   if something's wrong. You know, I only call out wrongs, it's not like I'm wagging my finger everywhere, 'Oh, that needs to be done. That needs to be done.' I think, back to the original question, yes, you shouldn't ever take, because it always backfires. Look at Feeno when they were threatening anyone that did ISL would not be able to do wall short courses, or something like that. It's not 1980 anymore, you can't do that.  I think it's hard as well, isn't it, without athletes these organisations are nothing. Yes, I mean, I missed that point, but I think, if you look at it in simple terms, sport is entertainment, and the athletes are the entertainers. They're the revenue people, they bring in the money, they bring in the sponsors, they bring in the TV. So, if you treat them right, they will treat you right as an organisation. A lot of the time, that balances few and far between and if you look at, I think it's the MBA that has 51% revenue split, so whatever the MBA brings in, it's shared among the athletes, which is what ISL's trying to do and hopefully it works out in a few years' time. It's basically giving the athletes what they're due and I think that's only a fair thing. If you're going to make 100 million off something and you're only giving 5 million to the athletes, it’s like, 'Hold on a minute. 5%’, you would not take that in any other job.  I think people see it as, well, ‘they've just done one swim, why should they get that kind of money’? But I think people forget that it's   5,   10,   15,  sometimes   20   years   of   work   to   get   that   one performance that warrants a reward of all that hard work. 

Yes. I mean, it's like anything isn't it. If you're going for a CEO job, you've probably been in that job for 20 years for experience. So, that's how you've got to treat sport. If you look at it in a business aspect, yes, you get that one opportunity at Olympics every 4 years, or a few opportunities at Olympics to show your profile and be out there, and if you're lucky enough, not ‘lucky’ enough but hard-working enough or talented enough to do that every championship between that, then you're building your profile even more. But something's got to change in sport in the next 10 years, something drastic, especially at the Olympic level, I think. Because these professional leagues are coming in, you've seen it in every single sport now, especially in swimming and athletics. The athletics have got a diamond league, hopefully ISL is equal, if not greater than that. But if you look at a sport in a simple aspect of there's only certain amount of TV time, and there's only a certain amount of things people can watch, and we're getting shoved sport from all different leagues and all different things, down our throats. So, how's the Olympics going to stay current, how's it going to keep the heritage, how's it going to evolve around the dopamine rush of younger kids who are looking at TikTok and only want 10 seconds of laughter? How do you do that for a 1,500-metre freestyle? It has to continually evolve, it's not like it was meant to be in 1904 or 1900. You know, sport and the world is changing faster than ever. 

How many more games do you think you've got in you? 

God knows. It depends on how many opportunities I have outside of the sport. If someone came along and gave me a very good opportunity to inspire and give back, and potentially give me a passion or give that opportunity for me to have a passion in something. You know, maybe in 4 years, or 8 years, I'd take it. I'll probably do a hard review after Paris. I'd always say that I'll try and go to LA 2028, but it really comes down to your supporters and your sponsors because they make it happen. No athlete can make it without, I mean they can make it, but they can't at the same time. It's very hard to make it at the top and stay there without financial support or the right sponsors, the right management, and honestly, I haven't got a crystal ball. But I've always said, there's only one rule with me, if I'm not having fun with it, I'm done with it, like Drake said, you know. It's that simple. 

Do you think in your main event, 100-metre breaststroke, do you think you can ever be beaten? 

Probably not, I don't think. I mean, I can't see that because in my head, it doesn't calculate, why would I train every single day to think that I could come second or lose? You've got to think every single day, I'm going to win, I'm going to win, I'm going to win, this is going to put me on the performance.   And   the   way   the   mindset   works   for  me   is,   it's   not necessarily, 'I'm going to win’, it has to be, 'I'm going to dominate.' So, if you dominate consecutively for years and years, you've got the heritage, you've got the history, you've got the data that backs up that you can pretty much win any race even if it's on your worst day. And there's a very fine line that I don't want these viewers to get confused about that, 'Oh, he's arrogant or he’s overconfident.' Because I'm not, it's knowing that my hard work, every single day when I wake up 5:45, or 6, or whatever it's going to be, and I spend 6 hours a day swimming, training, eating the right things. So, 365, not drinking on a beautiful day like this, this is why I feel like I can do something, because of the total discipline to do something like this. You've got to love it because it will send you insane otherwise.  I think it's funny when people are quite vocal about making you the target and wanting to go after you, because for me as someone who is part of the poolside team now and a close friend, that's the worst thing.  If someone knew me, literally the worst thing you can do is provoke me. It's prodding a line, you're going to get your head chomped off. Chomped, I've never said that before. But the thing is, different athletes have different mindsets. If they have to talk to the media and say, 'Oh, I'm going to beat him or I'm going to kick his arse.' Or whatever it's going to be, I'm like, 'Fair enough.' To be fair, your attention’s on me, so I don't care. Your attention is not on yourself so why would I even bother with that. And there's that famous saying, 'Lions don't lose sleep over the opinions of sheep anyway.' The thing that annoys me when people say that, they say it in such a manner that there's no respect. If I was a young tennis player and I said that about Federer, you're going to get chucked out because Federer is one of the nicest guys, I'm sure he's classy, and he's got respect, he's got heritage in the sport, he's proven time and time again that he's a classy winner and a champion. So, there's a very fine thing where you go, 'I'm going to kick his arse' for entertainment, and there's a very fine line between there's no respect for that person who's done that. But to be fair, it just kicks me on even more. I enjoy it but knowing that their attention is on me when really, they think that it's the other way round, it's quite interesting. 

Do you think that's based off them wanting to win? Or do you think that's based off jealously for how much you've won? 

I mean, probably the same things, I guess. I can't really tell you because I've not really been in that. But I think everyone wants to win. Everyone who trains this much, you've got to have something, obviously, you want to win, you don't train for second, right? I think for me, it's just very different when you were... Cameron Van der Burgh, the fastest 100 breaststroker before you broke the world record, that's a very respectful relationship from what I've seen. I've always respected Cameron, always. I always respected him in a sense that I knew he had speed. I always respected his speed, and I respected him as an athlete, his preparation, and when you lose that respect, you get beaten and that's the beauty of sport. That you can have that respect and as soon as you lose it, you lose and that's like, fair enough. It's when people who have no real, kind of, calibre of that level that start throwing out shots or whatever you want to call them. But I just find it funny because it's going to happen now and it's going to happen 2 years in the future, it's going to happen 10 years in the future. But all I demand is respect for what I've tried to do in the sport, which is improve it for the people who are the grass roots, and make it more appealing and more cool and trying to put on a good show, and show you where the human body can go. 

Where's that passion for wanting to get the most from the sport and from the athletes rather than just yourself? Where does that passion come from?I think, because I've seen it first-hand that a lot of athletes, not just in swimming, a lot of athletes are successful and are successful for a long time. And then you look at the impact that they have in the community or the sport and it's very little. I think, if we're here and you're successful for a reason, then why not try and change it for the good or the better, and try to involve more people through that mindset? I think sport, especially for a young person, is the most powerful and important thing a young person can do. Because not does it only show you emotional control which young people need more than ever, how to control their emotions, how to understand themselves instead of trying to understand others, which social media does, I think sport can teach discipline, routine, rhythm, flow, teamwork, and that's why I'd always employ athletes if I had a business. Because if you're looking at a young adult, 20 years old, and they've done that for free and a complete gamble of one day I might – 10%, 20%, 30%, whatever it's going to be – might make the Olympics, that is the most valuable employee, because they're going to go above and beyond to make your business and their job the best they can do it. 

You've been awarded an MBE from this country. You're not just becoming an ambassador for GB Swimming, you're becoming an ambassador for the whole of the sport of swimming. Do you feel like you're stepping into that role at all? 

I don't think so. I think, maybe externally I am, internally I'm not even trying to do that. I like to do as little as possible when I'm trying to race because my focus has to be so channelled. But I think what I do, I just want to give the next generation, and this generation, more into the sport and try look after it the best I can, and teach athletes to speak out if something's wrong. I don't want to see any sport in the next 30 years, absolutely pulled down by doping and other issues and equality issues and stuff like that, when it should be about 8 people (in swimming specifically 8 people) racing to see who's the fastest, keep it simple. Stop trying to bring all this other stuff into it and obviously, someone at the top of their game, or the athletes at the top of that, have the most influence. So, hopefully, you'll start to see a lot more athletes say, 'That's wrong. We need to do it this way and we need to do it right.' Your biggest strength is your  mind and your process of your thought. From a personal perspective, as a friend, we talk a lot around mental health and how it's so important in your wellbeing.

So, can you give us a little bit of an insight into your relationship with mental health? 

I mean, there's a few issues in the last few months that have crawled up on me very quickly because of this issue, or my nutrition, or too much workload. And that's something I'll speak about at a later date because I'm in the preparation for Olympics now. I think, on the whole though, there have been challenges. 2018 into 2019, there's parts of your career where you're like, 'What is my purpose?' I think, if you don't have a

purpose and you lose that purpose, that's when sport becomes hard, or any job becomes hard because it makes it 10 times harder to get up in the morning and go through that process of starting the warm-up and going through the rounds with it. But when mental health's a concern, yes, everyone does view your athletes as indestructible or people who are extremely focused and channelled and bullet proof. But athletes are just like any other person. You have your rough feelings, you have down days, you have bad days, you have even worse days. But it's really how you pick yourself up and stay on that path. Even when you know it's going to be the hardest battle of your life. For example, 2019 World Champs, I wasn't really feeling myself. All through that preparation, all through that camp, something was just missing, but then I can still break a world record because I'm so addicted to the process and channelling that energy. So, yes. I think, simply, if you're feeling in that mindset where everything feels hopeless, it's not necessarily that you have to try and defeat the demon. It's more about living with it and controlling it and knowing where your pushes and pulls are, and knowing your boundaries. So, I know now, as I'm older and wiser, what's going to push me over the limit in terms of rest, recovery, nutrition, sleep, and all these things obviously intertwine with my mental health. 

When you're in that constant pursuit of performance and it's faster and faster. Are you lifting more in the gym? Are you swimming faster in training so you can be faster in the pool? Do you think there's a detriment to having that performance mindset? Do you see any negatives to it? 

Of course, it's so unhealthy. Because if you speak to any athlete, and I'm obviously going to go on this journey, but if you speak to an athlete who's retired, you'll have constant issues. I'm pretty sure with your body image, how much you should be eating, how much you should be sleeping, how much you should be working. Anything you've done as an athlete that you've focused on, I'm pretty sure it's going to be an issue post- retirement. So, I think there's a lot of things around that and I'm waiting to see what beauty comes my way. After swimming I want to enjoy it and relax and enjoy the fruits of my labour that I've worked so hard for. 

Do you think that when you do finish swimming, do you think that performance mindset will be in everything? 

I'll have to channel it. Definitely have to channel it. And it's obviously taking advice from people who have been there and done that. I know well enough that after retirement I'm not going to walk into a stadium with 20,000 people cheering and roaring my name as I come down to the last 10-metres. You just don't get that down the Jobcentre. For me, I just want to do something I have a passion for, that performance mindset will seep in. I know I'm addicted to hard work. I may not have it in other areas right now because it's so addicted into my training, into my focus and my discipline in what I do every single day, but that will seep into another area. Whether it's you want to turn over this much or you want to sell this much, or you want to do this much or you want to make this much change, or you want to create a charity or a foundation which supports 1,000 kids a year or 10,000 kids a year. Whatever it's going to be, I'd always have a goal. I think if you have a goal, no matter how big it is, and you can break it down and work backwards from that goal and set pacemakers along the way, I think my performance mindset will just take over. Obviously, there's going to be a lot of mistakes but it's boring without mistakes. 

You're an older athlete now, you've got to be wise, you've got to be smart with your energy, how do you contain that complete desire to go more and more? 

I get tired quicker, I don't want to anymore. Some days I feel really, really good, but it's not about doing that session really, really good anymore or going 20 out of 10 one session and then back to a 4 out of 10. It's really just staying consistent. I want a 10 out of 10 every single session all week. So, you don't get the highs but then also, you don't get the lows of those training sessions, you just stay middle ground. Get that job done, get that job done. Mel always put it like, you're in the trenches, sniper, just sniping off each process or training session. So, I am worried that obviously, I can't really call it a limit, I do it when I'm cleaning or when I'm doing something. I'm like, 'I need to do that, I need to do that, I need to do that.' And I get carried away and I'm like, 'Hold on a minute, I've got to rest.' Because I don't think you can be the best in the world at anything without enough gas in the car. I think to be the best in the world, you need the rest and recovery. You need that time at home, you need the facilities at the pool, or facilities at home. So, I think, yes, it's great to have that now and I feel so much more refreshed knowing that I have that now. Again, it's all about your own wellness. 

So, looking forward for the rest of the year, post-Tokyo. You're currently second in the running for winning BBC Sports Personality of the Year. We have been sitting in the Rose going, 'Oh, yes, not quite got into that top three, or not quite won that award.' But how do you feel about that knowing that you're...? 

For some reason, I actually thought you were stating the truth there. I was like, 'What is going on, I don't even know what's going on.' But I mean, if that is the scenario, then happy days, isn't it? I think, I enjoy it no matter what. I enjoy that because you get to see other sports people do what they do. But swimming has notoriously been underwhelmed and underserved in this country, if not in the world now, for the last 10 years at least. So, it'll be nice to have the opportunity for the respect of the sport because of how hard it is to the average Joe, really. I just want to put my country on the map, put myself on the map, and have a pint after. I'm just honestly, like a normal guy and I'm very chilled, but I also love a scrap as well at the same time. 

Thank you very much, Adam. It's been awesome. 

Thank you, cheers. 

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