World record holder Adam Peaty confirms bid for Los Angeles Olympic Games after 50m sprint added to swimming roster - 'The best result for our sport'
By Matt Jones
Published 09/04/2025 at 20:57 GMT+1
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Adam Peaty says he has got "a good feeling about the next three years" after announcing he will attempt to compete at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. The IOC have today confirmed the events to take place at the Games. The three-time Olympic champion had previously said he would only head to America if 50m breaststroke was part of the roster. He described it as "the best result for our sport".
'There will be no three-peat' - Peaty takes silver in dramatic 100m breaststroke final
Video credit: TNT Sports
World record holder Adam Peaty has confirmed his plans to compete at the 2028 LA Olympics.
The 30-year-old's participation in Los Angeles had been in question, as there was some doubt over whether there would be a 50m sprint event.
The distance was missing from the roster in Peaty's specialist stroke, breaststroke, at the Paris Games last year.
Instead, he had to compete over 100m, where he was forced to settle for a silver medal after coming behind Italy's Nicolo Martinenghi.
That led Peaty to admit there was "a big question mark" over whether he would head to America in three years, unless he could swim over 50m.
The IOC have today confirmed the programme for LA 2028 though, much to Peaty's delight.
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"50m sprint events have just been added to the LA Olympic Games which confirms my attempt to be at my fourth Olympic Games," he wrote on Instagram.
"This is the best result for our incredible sport and will allow more people to be part of it and stay in it much longer. Thank you World Aquatics for this amazing decision.
"I've got a good feeling about these next three years."
Peaty holds the world record over 50m in breaststroke, achieving a barely believable time of 25.95 seconds at the 2017 World Championships in Budapest.
With the distance not part of the schedule at the 2016 or 2020 Games, he was limited to challenging over 100m there, too.
Except he did so with great success, winning gold medals at the Rio and Tokyo Olympics.
He is also the fastest man ever over 100m in breaststroke, swimming a record time of 56.88 at the 2019 World Championships.
But, aged 30, he was not included in a group of 57 elite British swimmers who are being supported by Aquatics GB this calendar year.
Women's football expanded in historic move
Away from the pool, the women's football event will make history in three years' time.
Previously, only 12 teams had challenged for the gold medal, but that will now be increased to 16, while the men's event will reduce from 16 to a dozen countries
On the track, there will be a 4x100 mixed relay race, while there will also be mixed events in golf, gymnastics, rowing coastal beach sprint and table tennis.
In a statement, the IOC said: "Gender equality was a key consideration when deciding on the athlete quota and the number of events.
"In the initial sports programme, with 10,500 athletes, the number of female athletes is 5,333 and the number of male athletes 5,167.
"The additional sports add 322 female athletes and 376 male athletes.
"In addition, six mixed events were added to the event programme. Out of 351 events, there are 161 women’s events, 165 men’s events and 25 mixed events."
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