Adam Ramsay-Peaty, the 100m breaststroke world record holder and two-time Olympic champion, faces the latest challenge to his dominance on Saturday in the 100m breaststroke final at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, shortly after 21:00 BST. The 31-year-old is chasing a 33rd major gold of his glittering career, while 18-year-old Filip Nowacki is trying to force his way past the sport’s most successful breaststroker.
Sport is full of moments when one generation tries to dislodge another. Steffi Graf toppled Martina Navratilova to win her first Grand Slam title on the clay of Paris in 1987, Jason Kenny beat Chris Hoy to take the coveted sprint spot for Team GB at London 2012, and less than a week ago Lamine Yamal’s Spain beat Lionel Messi’s Argentina in another such moment.
For the younger competitor, the task is simple: take a shot at the superstar. For the established champion, the challenge is to hold off a rival and time itself.
Ramsay-Peaty is on his own journey, one he hopes ends with a third individual Olympic gold at the Los Angeles Olympics in two years’ time. But Nowacki is moving into his slipstream. He has begun to pick off Ramsay-Peaty’s age-group records and is also part of the AP Race stable set up by the 31-year-old to help develop the next generation.
Ramsay-Peaty has said he wants to mentor Nowacki and pass on advice to the young swimmer. Last year, Nowacki repaid that support by breaking Ramsay-Peaty’s 100m breaststroke junior British record.
In Friday’s semi-finals, Ramsay-Peaty showed no sign of giving up the baton. There is uncertainty around the broken finger he suffered in June, but racing side by side in lanes four and five, he built an early lead and held off Nowacki in the second length. Nowacki stayed close, but never close enough.
“I saw his front wave, but at the same time that is what I train for,”
“I know I am a sprinter. I know I can go out fast.”
Nowacki, who is competing for Jersey at these Games after learning to swim under Nathan Jegou on the Channel Island, is arguably better suited to the 200m event, a distance Ramsay-Peaty does not race. In the shorter 100m contest, however, the younger swimmer may be expected to stay stronger for longer.
When they spoke afterwards, Ramsay-Peaty, all chest and tattooed muscle, towered over his young rival to such an extent that it would be easy to forget they compete in the same sport. Nowacki appeared wary, but there is a cheeky confidence in him.
“Course I do,”
“No, I wish, I'm gonna give it my best shot”
Nowacki was not long out of armbands when Ramsay-Peaty won gold in the same pool at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. That performance announced Ramsay-Peaty on to the global stage, and two years later the Englishman won his first Olympic title in Rio de Janeiro. Nowacki was only eight years old at the time.
“Adam is a true role model in the sport,”
“I grew up watching him race at Rio, Tokyo and Paris.
“To race him and not be a random competitor but give him a race is special to me.”
The pair are expected to compete together as Team GB team-mates in Los Angeles, but on Saturday they are also racing for individual ambitions. Ramsay-Peaty’s most recent major podium success came at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022, where he won the 50m title but lost his 100m crown to James Wilby.
That was followed by what he has described as a “self-destructive spiral” amid mental health issues, which led him to consider his future in the sport. Even so, his emotional silver medal at the Paris Olympics two years ago showed that he remains a major force.
For Nowacki, a medal would be historic. If he finishes on the podium it would be Jersey’s first Commonwealth Games medal for 36 years, and only their second gold medal in the competition’s history.
Australia’s Sam Williamson, who won the first semi-final, is also in contention and will have a major say in the final outcome.
“It is going to be a good scrap, especially down that last 25m, and I do love a good scrap,”
How does the rivalry compare to other sporting handovers?
This race fits a familiar sporting pattern in which an established champion is pressed by a younger challenger. The article points to Steffi Graf’s defeat of Martina Navratilova in Paris in 1987, Jason Kenny’s victory over Chris Hoy for the sprint place at London 2012, and Lamine Yamal’s Spain beating Lionel Messi’s Argentina less than a week ago as examples of that generational handover.
What is at stake for Ramsay-Peaty and Nowacki?
Ramsay-Peaty is aiming to continue his own decorated career and move one step closer to a third individual Olympic title at Los Angeles in 2028, while also adding a 33rd major gold medal. Nowacki is trying to build on his rapid rise, challenge his mentor, and potentially deliver Jersey’s first Commonwealth Games medal in 36 years.
What happened in Friday’s semi-finals?
Ramsay-Peaty controlled the semi-final against Nowacki from the start, opening an early lead before resisting the younger swimmer’s challenge on the second length. Despite concern over the broken finger he suffered in June, he came through ahead of Nowacki, who remained in contention but could not quite get past him.
Why is Nowacki a serious threat?
Nowacki is regarded as especially strong over 200m breaststroke, a distance Ramsay-Peaty does not swim, but the Commonwealth final is over 100m. That shorter distance could suit Ramsay-Peaty’s sprint speed, though Nowacki’s stamina and recent progress make him a genuine contender.
What does this mean for Jersey?
If Nowacki wins a medal, it would end Jersey’s 36-year wait for a Commonwealth Games podium finish. The island has won only one Commonwealth gold medal in its history, which underlines the scale of the opportunity in Glasgow.
Who else could influence the final?
Australia’s Sam Williamson, who won the first semi-final, is also a major threat and could shape the medal places. Ramsay-Peaty has already made clear he expects the final to be tightly contested, particularly in the closing 25m.
Key Facts
- Adam Ramsay-Peaty is the 100m breaststroke world record holder and a two-time Olympic champion.
- The 100m breaststroke final is scheduled for Saturday at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, shortly after 21:00 BST.
- Filip Nowacki is 18 and competes for Jersey at the Games.
- Ramsay-Peaty is chasing a 33rd major gold and a possible third individual Olympic title in Los Angeles in two years’ time.
- Jersey has not won a Commonwealth Games medal for 36 years.
