Adam’s first major success came aged 19, where he was the break-out star at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, winning Gold for England in the 100m breaststroke and Medley Relay, followed by a Silver in the 50m. 

Adam’s emergence on the world stage continued at the Berlin 2014 European Championships, winning Gold in the 50m and 100m Breaststroke and the 4x100m Mixed Medley and 4x100m Medley Relay. A sign of things to come, Adam’s dominant 50m Gold saw him set a new World Record of 26.62 seconds in the 50m. His overall haul of four Gold medals was a driving force behind Team GB’s best European performance in history.

Following a stellar 2014 Adam’s phenomenal form continued at the 2015 British Championships, setting his second individual World Record in the 100m with a time of 57.92 seconds, the first man to ever go under 58. This dominance continued at the 2015 Kazan World Championships in August where Adam set yet another a new World Record in the 50m, posting a time of 26.42s. His powerhouse performance saw him become the first British swimmer to win three Gold medals at a single event and the first man in World Championship history to clinch the 50m and 100m Breaststroke double.

At the 2016 European Championships in London, Adam successfully defended his titles to win four more Gold medals in the 50m and 100m Breaststroke and the 4x100m Mixed Medley and 4x100m Medley Relay.

Three months later at the Olympic Games in Rio, Adam made history when he became Olympic champion in the 100m Breaststroke, winning GB’s first medal of Rio 2016 and smashing his own world record in the process with a time of 57.13 seconds. On the final night of competition in Rio, Adam raced to a Silver medal in the 4x100m Medley Relay – with the fastest Breaststroke split in history of 56.59s. 

Adam’s contribution to British Swimming’s best ever Olympics since 1908 led to him receiving an MBE as part of the 2016 New Year’s Honours List.

With an abundance of medals and World Records to his name, Adam continues to dominate the field of men’s breaststroke and inspire the next generation, cementing a legacy for himself and swimming.