Bizarre pool malfunction delays Adam Ramsay-Peaty heat at Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games - ‘I thought I had seen everything’
Updated 29/07/2026 at 13:58 GMT+1
React to this story
Adam Ramsay-Peaty is no stranger to success in the pool, but as he got his Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games campaign under way, he experienced something very few of us have ever seen before.
‘I’ve never seen a lane rope come detached’ - Pool malfunction delays Ramsay-Peaty
Video credit: TNT Sports
As the swimmers prepared for the sixth and final heat of the men’s 100-metre breaststroke in Glasgow, they were faced with a significant delay.
After the fifth heat, won by Australia’s Sam Williamson, the lane line between lane six and seven became detached from the pool edge. And what ensued was a long delay to ensure it was all attached as normal, with a turn judge having to hold the rope for the majority of that time.
TNT Sports commentary duo Grace Harvey and James Parrack could hardly believe what they were witnessing on the first full day of competition at the Games.
Harvey said: ”We’ve got some lane rope trouble happening in the pool between lane six and seven as well.
Parrack added: ”I thought I had seen everything in a swimming pool and I have never seen a lane rope come detached.
”I have seen touch pads come out, I have seen a bird having to be fished out of a pool, I have seen swimmers come charging onto the lane because they have missed the call room.
”I don’t know what they’re going to do, Craig Hunter, our referee has just asked one of the swimmers to jump back in before going down to the swim down area.”
The unlikely situation happened to continue for over five minutes, with several members of staff establishing what exactly had to be done to get things back under way.
And while this was ongoing, several of the swimmers got up and began stretching their legs out to ensure they were ready for the race whenever it did actually begin.
Parrack continued: ”We are still waiting for the lane line malfunction to be fixed and I wonder what is going through the mind of Adam Ramsay-Peaty.
”The turn judge is still holding not this lane line, that has been what, four or five minutes now while they are trying to fix this.
- King Charles, Sir Chris Hoy, KT Tunstall - Best moments from opening ceremony
- How to watch the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on TNT Sports and HBO Max
- Follow Day 1 of Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games LIVE HERE
”This is not a difficult fix as the Mexican wave is started around Tollcross International Swimming Centre.
”What they need to do is go up the other end, unhook it, loosen the lane line, attach at both ends and then re-tighten it. So they are now looking for someone to be able to do that.”
Harvey added: ”Just feel bad for the swimmers, they don’t know how long the delay is going to be. They are standing up, keeping primed, keeping warm.”
In the end, after a delay of around 10 minutes, the race finally got going and in a surprise to absolutely nobody in Glasgow and beyond, Ramsay-Peaty stormed to glory.
'Got to get on with it!'
Ramsay-Peaty first began to make a name for himself at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and it was in this very event that he won his first gold medal.
Fast forward 12 years, and you would be a brave person to bet against him repeating that feat again.
He may now be 31 and have undergone a name change after marrying Gordon Ramsay’s second daughter Holly, but he remains the same incredible swimmer and qualified fastest for the semifinal in a time of 59.46 seconds.
So, it is fair to say that he did not let the delay phase him.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/07/24/image-7875d0e6-97b1-4f59-9cdc-f9b2f87956ff-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Ramsay-Peaty on Glasgow return: ‘I’ve grown so much as a person and athlete’
Video credit: TNT Sports
Speaking to TNT Sports, he said: ”Well, it was a little bit of extra time to enjoy the crowd, I guess.
”Obviously I am a sprinter so every second counts but you know what, stuff happens in sport, stuff happens in life, got to get on with it!
”I think it is definitely full, full circle, 12 years is a long time for any athlete.
”Hopefully we can get the result we want tomorrow and over the next week or so but again I’ve grown so much as a person and as an athlete.
”Last time I was here, I was very young with no world records to my name, so it has been a very long journey.”
Ramsay-Peaty will next be in action in the men’s 100m breaststroke semi-final on Thursday night.
Add TNT Sports as a preferred source here to enjoy more content like this.
The Commonwealth Games is entering a new era with TNT Sports and HBO Max set to deliver a never-before-seen viewing experience, with every event from Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games exclusively live across all HBO Max plans in the UK and Ireland
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement