Triple Olympic champion Adam Peaty, who trains in Loughborough, has withdrawn from next month’s British Swimming Championships due to mental health struggles.
The 28-year-old shared the news with his followers on Twitter, telling them that he had been struggling with ‘burnout’ and the pressure of being a successful athlete.
“Everyone wants to sit in your seat, until they sit in your seat…Very few people understand what winning and success does to an individual’s mental health. They don’t understand the pressure these individuals put on themselves, to win over and over again,” he said.
“As some people may know, I’ve struggled with my mental health over the last few years, and I think it’s important to be honest about it.
“I’m tired, I’m not myself and I’m not enjoying the sport as I have done for the last decade.
“Some might recognise it as burnout; I just know that over the last few years I haven’t had the answers. With help, now I know I can address the imbalance in my life.”
The British Championships are due to take place at Ponds Forge in Sheffield from April 4-9.
Mr Peaty says that he is continuing to train with “the sole purpose of delivering the best performance possible in Paris at the 2024 Olympic Games.”
