British star overcomes alcohol abuse to chase history at Paris Olympics

Britain's Adam Peaty has history in his sights as the Olympic swimming champion heads to the Paris Games after slaying the demons that threatened to sink his glittering career.

Peaty stepped away from the pool last year as he battled depression, alcoholism and burnout.

But the 29-year-old has finally turned the corner in his mental health fight and believes he is ready to make waves in the French capital.

Peaty has three Olympic gold medals, with two in the 100m breaststroke and the 4x100m mixed medley at the 2021 Tokyo Games and the other in the 100m breaststroke at the 2016 Rio Games.

The eight-time world champion will arrive in Paris on the brink of equalling American great Michael Phelps as the only male swimmers to have won the same event at three successive Olympics.

That would be a remarkable landmark for Peaty given the issues in his private life that consumed him for so long.

"I got to a point in my career where I didn't feel like myself. I didn't feel happy swimming," he said.

"I've had my hand hovering over a self-destruct button because if I don't get the result that I want, I self destruct.

"When you achieve what I have in the sport that comes at a cost. I had to take a break from life really because it's so demanding."

Peaty's ultra-competitive mindset fuelled his record-breaking feats, but the intensity required to maintain that elite edge took a heavy toll.

Once so scared by water that he had to be coaxed to start his swimming career as a shy nine-year-old in Uttoxeter, Peaty turned to drinking and partying to blot out the pain of the adult world.

ALSO READ:

• Palestinians are winners by just being at Paris Olympics, say athletes

• France recalls contaminated Olympic water bottles

• Greece's Tsitsipas keen on completing childhood dream at Paris Games

Reflecting on his self-destructive behaviour, Peaty said the road to recovery only started when he took responsibility for his actions.

"It was only last year that I started to face what I'd been going through in a healthy manner," he said.

"The answers can't be found in a nightclub, or some of the stuff that I'd been doing. It had to be found in true accountability, tough and deep conversations with people around me.