Commonwealth Games: Adam Ramsay-Peaty's emotional reaction to bronze medals shows event still matters, says Laura Kenny

Adam Ramsay-Peaty's emotional reaction to his Commonwealth Games performances has illustrated just how important the event is to athletes, according to Dame Laura Kenny.

Three-time Olympic swimming champion Ramsay-Peaty was visibly tearful after picking up two bronze medals at this summer's downsized tournament, first in the 100m breaststroke and then again in the 50m.

After previously going eight years unbeaten in the 100m, Ramsay-Peaty was clearly disappointed with his performance, admitting "nothing makes sense" in interviews afterwards.

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The 31-year-old's takes have received a mixed reception from fans watching on - but now-retired six-time medal-winning Olympic cyclist Kenny believes Ramsay-Peaty showed "strength" to show up under "a lot of pressure."

"He was emotional after the first one and obviously to bring yourself back round, to come back up and perform the way he did for a bronze medal, that takes strength in itself," Kenny told Sky Sports News.

"The emotion that he showed in those interviews post-bronze just shows how much the Commonwealth Games means to these athletes.

"You're performing under the pressure, you're coming back from ultimately being a superhero and held to such a high standard that people almost expect you to win gold every single time.

"Coming from someone who has experienced that, the pressure of that can be a lot. You're under the spotlight for two weeks every two years and that is a lot of pressure to have to deal with.

"Throw into the mix stuff that has or hasn't happened in his personal life, I think it is a lot for you then to come out and perform."

Ramsay-Peaty has recently vowed to let his swimming do the talking following his high-profile wedding to Holly Ramsay, daughter of chef Gordon Ramsay, and a subsequent family fallout.

He also drew criticism for a failure to congratulate his fellow athletes in his interviews after his bronze finishes.

Kenny understands the negative reaction to Ramsay-Peaty's comments at the Glasgow Games.

"I probably would have started with saying well done to the athletes that got gold and silver," she said.

"But I can totally understand because, in the heat of the moment, when you are getting asked questions immediately after you've performed, it's so emotional, anything comes out."

These Games were originally scheduled to take place in Victoria, Australia, but the organisers pulled out due to spiralling costs, with Glasgow stepping in to pick up hosting duties.

After going ahead with just 10 sports, there have been fears for the future of the event, but Kenny believes it remains important.

"Athletes want to compete," Kenny, who retired in 2024, said. "For me, taking away the Commonwealth Games would have been one last chance to compete. It would have been one less multi-sport event that we had on the calendar.

"The Commonwealth Games is one of the only times para-athletes and able-bodied athletes coincide, so why would we take that away? It's also got the added element that the home nations are split up, so actually it's really nice to compete for Team England.

"You've got all these National Lottery funded athletes that ultimately want to train and race and compete, so why would we want that off the calendar?"