#OlympicNan reveals champion swimmer’s childhood fear of water

The 21 year old has won GB’s first Olympic swimming title in 28 years.

“It means so much to me”.

Our junior video producer Cassandra Nelson, together with Derby Telegraph reporter Bethany Knowles, went out to speak to people in Derby city centre to get their thoughts on Peaty’s triumph at the Rio Olympics. I’m saying that like I’ve swum slow.

Britain were roundly criticised for winning just three medals at London 2012, none of them gold.

New British Prime Minister Theresa May congratulated Peaty and Jazz Carlin who took silver in the 400m freestyle.

Among her other tweets is a pictured of Peaty in his Olympic uniform and a photograph of herself dressed in merchandise.

We think she should add “and Olympic gold medallist” to that.

“All you’ve got to do is put 100 per cent effort in each day”. It really inspired me.

Peaty’s fantastic win had the whole of the United Kingdom team excited. No one else in the semi-finals even dipped under 59 seconds; it was like Peaty was competing in a different discipline to the rest of the field.

“It’s so surreal to get Team GB’s first gold”, said Adam.

He said: “I did it for my country because that means so much to me”.

Peaty was clear favourite entering the Games as the world champion and only man in history to swim beneath 58secs.

American teenage swimming sensation Katie Ledecky won gold by beating her own world record in a time of 3:56:46.

“It’s definitely the best feeling I’ve ever had”.

Peaty has been working hard on improving his dive to match the explosive finish which had already earned him European, World and Commonwealth gold medals.

“This is a product of seven years of work”.

Looking visibly stunned after the race she said: “I honestly can not believe it – I’m on the edge of tears”.

She is Olympic gold medallist Adam Peaty’s biggest fan. “I knew from the warm-up I could not go 57 (seconds)”.

“You never put a limit on anything”. I find it amusing they’re competing for that, but that’s the kind of family we are.

Peaty, famously, was scared of water as a child, fighting his mother when she tried to get him near a bath and refusing to countenance a shower.

“I didn’t want to be stuck at the back and have to chase the medals, I wanted to be up there at the start”.