But his closest competitor for gold is now firmly in view. China's Qin Haiyang brings an intriguing rivalry to the Olympics and will start next to the Briton, with Peaty in his favoured lane four and Qin in five. Peaty's time of 58.86 seconds was just 0.07 ahead of Qin in their respective semi-finals, and if the margins are that tight when going for gold then it will be an electrifying race, both inside and outside of the pool.
The question now, though, is how much more Peaty has to give, and how much Qin has to offer. Peaty remained two seconds off his world record time in the 100m breaststroke, but his first steps on the opening day of swimming in Paris were significant. For the two-time defending champion, world record holder and king of this event, Peaty has built a career out of smashing through barriers and raising standards with a sense of unimpeachable power. But the 29-year-old's journey to a third Olympics has been far from straightforward, with a broken foot and difficulties with his mental health as he questioned his future in the sport.
Denne historien er fra July 28, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
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Denne historien er fra July 28, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
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Carse justifies England faith as the archetypal bold pick
If you won a boxing match after your opponent continually punched themselves in the face, how much credit can you take?
Tenacious Diallo the key to Amorim pressing machine
Old Trafford has not seen anything like this before.
Gold King Cole packs the Bridge with merry old souls
In the 83rd minute, the ball rolled to the feet of Cole Palmer in a bubble of space outside Aston Villa's box, and the crowd snapped to attention.
Vibrant Anfield marks the changing of the Guardiola
There was a lull in the noise, a break in the Anfield atmosphere, when a defiant chant emerged from a corner near Stefan Ortega’s goal.
What is so daunting about Spain's new data checks?
Q You have written about the new “red tape” for visitors to Spain. So, as well as your usual passport details you will give a contact number, address and email. Not exactly the Spanish Inquisition, is it?
Sectarian clashes claim at least 130 lives in Pakistan
At least 130 people were killed in deadly sectarian clashes in Pakistan's northwestern Kurram district in spite of a tentative ceasefire, days after gunmen opened fire on a convoy of vehicles carrying Shia Muslims, local officials said.
Coalition government likely in Ireland as count proceeds
Fianna Fail say decisions on power-sharing for another day’
How Syria's forgotten war is back on the world's agenda
Many believed the country was lost in an unsolvable conflict, until everything changed in a matter of days, writes Bel Trew
Assad regime scrambles to halt Syrian rebels’ advance
Civilians reportedly killed by Russian and Syrian airstrikes
Mother of poisoning victim says she knew she would die
Lawyer Simone White succumbed to the effects of methanol while backpacking in Laos with two of her childhood friends
