In the statement, Peaty said he was “incredibly disappointed” to see the Energy for Swim cancelled due to “politics.” The Olympic gold medalist went on to say that cancelling the meet was the “wrong decision” and that this will only “galvanize the swimmers, not break them.”
Peaty was one of the first swimmer’s to commit to the Energy for Swim, which is taking place immediately following the FINA Short Course Championships in December. Since then, a long list of swimmers from around the globe committed to the Energy for Swim, despite FINA’s threats to suspend any participants for up to two years if they competed in Turin.
FINA’s threats came from a line in their General Rules, which prohibits “any kind of relationship with a non-affiliated or suspended body.”
You can see the full quote from Peaty below:
“I’m incredibly disappointed next month’s swim meet in Turin has been cancelled because of politics. As swimmers who represent our country and are passionate about our sport, we need to ask why. I firmly believe that the athletes should be at the heart of any decision made by our governing body and this is just what our sport and the athletes need. I think this is the wrong decision and it will galvanize the swimmers, not break them.”
Shame they caved to FINA
Antonio Gonzalez
Felipe Jimenez Jimenez sea necio