Adam Peaty spoke exclusively to The Times in April this year about the events that had led him on a “self-destructive spiral”. To mark World Mental Health Day, we start a two-part feature by recalling his interview back in spring in an SOS Long Read ahead of an update on his progress: the 2016 and 2020ne Olympic 100m breaststroke champion is in a much brighter place. On his return to racing at the World Cup in Berlin last weekend, the British ace wore his soul on his torso in the shape of a tattoo of a cross and the words “Into The Light“.

In The Times today, Peaty describes his epiphany, explains how adding the spiritual to the physical and mental has helped give him a healthy new perspective and discusses the work of the award-winning theologian who provides guidance to athletes. On the physical and mental sides of the triangle, coach Mel Marshall talks about Project Re-Contracting now underway as an entourage of experts work on helping Peaty deliver the best-possible version of himself at the Paris Olympics next July. We'll look more deeply at that in Part 2.

Part 1: April 2023 - Adam Peaty: "I’ve Been On A Self-Destructive Spiral" 

Adam Peaty twirls an AirPod case between his fingers relentlessly as he talks about the demons and doubts that have enveloped him.

He is Britain’s greatest swimmer, a global superstar of the pool who won Olympic gold in 2016 and two more in 2021, recording times for the 100m breaststroke that seemed outrageous to anyone else.

But at 28, with Paris 2024 on the horizon, there have been times over the past two years when Peaty has given in to what he calls the devil on his shoulder. Last month he withdrew from racing, citing mental health struggles.

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