Adam Peaty lost a race but shed tears of happiness, declaring himself a winner all the same at the Paris Olympics after his bid for a third straight 100 metres breaststroke gold ended in silver on July 28.
The 29-year-old Briton, whose battle with drink and mental health issues after the 2020 Tokyo Games has been well documented, said he had no regrets and Italian Nicolo Martinenghi deserved his victory.
"It's not sad at all," he said at Paris La Defense Arena after finishing joint-second with American Nic Fink.
He said that although he had woken up on the July 28 morning with the "curveball" of a cough and feeling under the weather, he was not seeking any excuse.
"If you're willing to put yourself on the line every single time, I think there's no such thing as a loss. I'm so happy that the right man won it.
"I'm not defining myself by a medal. I define myself by my heart and what it's made me feel, what it's made me produce," he added. "It's got the best out of me.
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