Specialising in breaststroke, Adam is a British competitive swimmer. He has raced for Great Britain in the Olympic Games, World Championships and European Championships, as well as representing England in the Commonwealth Games. At present, he was awarded a gold medal at the 2016 Olympics in the 100-metre breaststroke, making Adam the first male British swimmer in an astonishing 24 years. At Tokyo 2020 Adam continued his winning streak and placed first in the men's 100m breaststroke event, winning him another gold medal, and in 2024 Adam returned to the Olympics to defend his title, this time claiming Silver in the Men's 100m Breaststroke at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Despite his youth, Adam currently holds the world record for the 50-metres and 100-metre breaststroke events. Undoubtedly a leader in his sport, Adam is the 2016 Olympic record holder, eight-time World Champion, twelve-time European Champion and three-time Commonwealth Champion.
Over the course of his sporting career so far, he has broken eleven world records, two of which in the 50-metre and 100-metre breaststroke events. Whilst breaking these records, he became the first man to complete the 50-metre breaststroke in under 26 seconds, as well as the first man to swim the 100-metre breaststroke under both 58, and then under 57 seconds. Adam was the first swimming athlete to secure both sprint breaststroke events, whilst at the same World Championships, and is widely renowned as the most successful GB winner at any single World Championships.
With the likes of David Wilkie and Rebecca Adlington, Adam is one of three swimming athletes to win gold medals at all four major international events - Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth Games. Adam is also the only swimmer to secure four major gold medals in the same event, at the same time. This, he achieved, in the 100-metre breaststroke at the 2016 Olympics. In recognition of his astounding contribution to Great Britain's roster of gold medals, Adam was awarded the FINA award for Best Male Swimming Performance of 2015, following his three gold medals at the World Championships in Kazan. At the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Adam claimed Gold in the Men's 50m Breastroke.
He has also won the Ligue Européenne de Natation (LEN) Awards for two consecutive years, 2016 and 2017, Male World Swimmer of the Year from Swimming World Magazine 2015 and 2018, and Male European Swimmer of the Year for 5 consecutive years from 2014 to 2018. Most notably, in congratulations for his services to swimming, Adam was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2017 before receiving an OBE in 2022. As a public speaker, Adam explores the mental strength, determination, resilience and physical capabilities it takes to succeed as a sporting champion. Presenting to thousands at a time, he has attended events up and down the country to share his personal experience of peak performance.
