Three-time Olympic champion Adam Peaty has announced his intention to compete in the 2028 match in Los Angeles after the addition of the 50-meter breaststroke to his swimming program.
On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially approved six new events for LA28, six new events, male and female backstroke, breaststroke and butterflies.
Peaty is a 3-time world and 4-time European champion in the 50m breaststroke.
The 30-year-old wrote, “The 50m sprint event has just been added to @LA28Games, confirming its fourth Olympics attempt.
“This is the best result for our incredible sport and will allow more people to participate in it and stay much longer. We would like to thank @world_aquatics for this incredible decision.
“I have a good feeling about these next three years.”
Peaty held in Tokyo 2020, in addition to winning a 4x100m mixed medley gold in Japan after winning the Olympic 100m breaststroke title in his debut at Rio 2016.
Among physical issues, including the positive Covid test, the 30-year-old had to settle for Paris’s silver breaststroke last year as Italian swimmer Nicolo Martinengi won the crown.
Women are set to surpass men in the 2028 Olympic landmark
Image: Emma Hayes led the US women’s soccer team to Olympic Gold in Paris 2024
Los Angeles 2028 is set to feature more female athletes than men at the Olympic landmark moment.
A total of 10,500 athletes will compete in 31 sports in their first program. This is the same as Paris 2024.
Gender equality is a key consideration, the IOC announced Wednesday the approved allocation of 5,333 locations for women and 5,167 for men.
Over the five new sports proposed by the LA28 Organising Committee and supported by the IOC (Baseball/Softball, T20 Cricket, Flag Football, Lacrosse, Squash), there are 322 more locations for female athletes and 376 for male competitors.
For the first time in Olympic history, all team sports have at least as many female teams as men’s teams.
Image: Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Campaign. Image credit: Enca.
Two women’s teams have been added to the water polo program, reaching 12 per gender, with women’s weight categories guaranteeing gender equality in boxing.
Meanwhile, women’s soccer competition will increase from 12 to 16 teams, while men’s tournaments will decrease from 16 to 12.
“The programme truly provides a strong platform and promotion for female athletes for the first time in Olympic history,” IOC sports director Kit McConnell said after a meeting of the executive committee of the governing body in Lausanne, Switzerland.
“There will be more quota locations for women’s qualifications than men, and it will be added to all other sports that have achieved gender equality in boxing and water polo, achieving gender equality in Paris.”
The 2028 event is scheduled to take place between July 14th and 30th.
