Adam Peaty takes 100m breaststroke gold in British national championships as bid for LA 2028 begins

Adam Peaty won the 100m breaststroke national title (PA)

Three-time Olympic champion Adam Peaty made a statement of intent as he began his push for LA 2028 with victory in the men's 100m breaststroke final at the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships.

The 31-year-old won the event in 58.97 seconds from teenage duo Filip Nowacki, who finished second in 59.39s, and Max Morgan, who took third in a personal best time of 59.56s.

Peaty’s time was the second-quickest in the world this year, after Japan’s Shin Ohashi swam in 58.67s at a meet in Japan last month.

Peaty confirmed last year that he would make his return to the pool in a bid to make another Olympics after considering quitting swimming before and after the Paris Games.

He took some time out post-Paris and got married, and cited celebrity chef father-in-law Gordon Ramsey as an inspiration in his return to the sport.

The results confirmed Peaty and Nowacki’s spot in the British team for the European Aquatics Championships this summer.

“We've got some talented youngsters coming through the pool,” he said. “I'm not talking about this year, it's about LA for me, and these boys are going to challenge me the whole way.”

Peaty decided to target another Olympic appearance after it was confirmed the 50m breaststroke event would be added to the programme for LA 2028.

He won 100m gold in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021, also winning the 4x100m mixed medley relay title in Tokyo, and will now target the 50m title at his fourth Games.

On the opening day of the national championships there was also victory for James Guy, who finished first in the men's 400m freestyle with a time of three minutes 44.04 seconds.

Nineteen-year-old Eva Okaro won the women's 100m freestyle in 53.75s, with Evelyn Davis and Freya Colbert taking second and third respectively while Freya Anderson finished fourth.

Additional reporting by PA