Britain’s double Olympic champion Adam Peaty says he felt “pure anger” at winning 100m breaststroke bronze at the Short Course World Championships.
American Nic Fink claimed gold and Italy’s defending champion Nicolo Martinenghi silver in Melbourne.
“I’m angry with bronze. I don’t get bronze often, so it’s a bit of a weird one on the Wikipedia,” said Peaty.
“It’s my first competition since the Olympics. The Commonwealths was just a trial really, after my foot (injury).”
Peaty, 27, was in second place before being passed by Martinenghi on the final 25m length as he claimed Britain’s first medal of the event.
“I’m disappointed but I’m not going to allow myself to be,” he said. “It is what it is. I am what I am.”
Peaty is a former world record holder in the short course 100m but has never won the world title. He holds the world record of 56.88 seconds for the long course 100m, set in 2019.
“I’m looking forward to a long course season after this week and I’ve got to be uncomfortable – I’ve got to be challenged – if I’m going to challenge that world record,” Peaty said.
“This is the fight I need and I just feel pure anger, which is when I feel very dangerous.”
Le Clos emotional after butterfly gold
Earlier, Britain’s Tom Dean finished eighth in the 100m freestyle.
Australia’s Kyle Chalmers took gold ahead of France’s Maxime Grousset and Italy’s Alessandro Miressi.
South Africa’s Chad le Clos continued his return to form with victory in the 200m butterfly.
The 30-year-old had to cope with unspecified upset in his private life and contemplated suicide last year while he lived with depression.
Cheered on by his father Bert in the stands, Le Clos, who failed to make it through the heats of the 100m butterfly at the Tokyo Olympics last year, came home almost a second quicker than Daiya Seto of Japan.
“This is a big win for me,” said Le Clos. “I have taken a lot of losses in the past few years.
“A lot of people doubted me, the swimming world doubted me, but the king is back.”
Australia’s Emma McKeon won the 100m freestyle title ahead of Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey in a repeat of the Olympic final.
American Lily King won 100m breaststroke gold as she overtook Lithuanian rival Ruta Meilutyte in the final metres of a thrilling race, although Meilutyte was later disqualified and the Netherlands’ Tes Schouten promoted to silver.
The championships run until Sunday.
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