Over the next four weeks we will take a closer look at each of the five contenders for the 2014 British Swimming Athlete of the Year. This week we make the case for Adam Peaty.
At his first Commonwealth Games Peaty took on local favourite Ross Murdoch in the 100m Breaststroke and took hold of his position at the top of the podium with an impressive performance.
He also won gold in the 4x100m Medley relay with his fellow Team England athletes and finished his Commonwealth campaign with silver in the 50m Breaststroke.
Just two weeks later, Peaty returned to action at the European Championships and came home having won four gold medals – including the 50m and 100m Breaststroke double and lowered the 50m Breaststroke world record in the process.
“Adam has had a real standout year,” Furniss said. “He got the world record in the 50m Breaststroke but his performances to win the gold in the 100m Breaststroke at both the Commonwealth Games and the European Championships were impressive.
“His age and his rate of improvement have been really exciting too and I believe that he and his coach Mel [Marshall] have done a great job to achieve what they have this year.
“Adam’s performances and attitude are world class, and his desire to continue to improve is always evident.”