Not many swimmers have come close to Michael Phelps. While Phelps’ legacy remains out of reach for the current crop of athletes, the world of social media loves to find ways to connect other swimmers to the most decorated Olympian of all time. These comparisons can often be related to the athletes’ performances, while sometimes it may be due to some similarities off the pool.

As the 2023 Swimming  World Cup unfolded in Berlin, a snapshot before a particular race is doing the rounds on the internet which highlights an eerie similarity between Michael Phelps and British swimmer Adam Peaty.

Michael Phelps and Adam Peaty’s similarities off the pool

During the course of his illustrious career, Michael Phelps has been photographed in some iconic poses and stances, and before a 2023 Swimming World Cup event, fans found something interesting. As Adam Peaty made a long-awaited return to elite swimming, an X post highlighted the similar stance position shared by the two Olympic champions.

The post showcases both athletes in almost the same stance before a swim, and the caption read, “I knew this looked familiar…” However, despite the pose being similar, Peaty’s results were quite different from Phelps’s as the Britisher recorded a low sixth-place finish in the men’s 100m breaststroke event with a time of 59.85 seconds. Although Peaty has not been a regular at elite swimming in recent times, the swimmer took some time off to handle his mental health struggles.

Adam Peaty’s mental health struggles

In recent times, a number of swimmers, including Michael Phelps, Chad le Clos, and now Adam Peaty, have come forward and opened up about their mental health struggles. Peaty, who has dominated the pool for nearly a decade, has now opened up on periods of depression and his problematic dependency on alcohol. He further emphasized that during this phase, he fell out of love with swimming and competition. Peaty also highlighted how the constant pressure of performing year after year takes a toll on the strongest of minds and how the pandemic added fuel to the fire.

Read more: “You Have Nothing to Prove”: Olympic Champion Adam Peaty’s Emotional Mental Health Confession Attracts Wide Support From Sports World

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However, the Britisher has finally returned to elite swimming and the 2023 Swimming World Cup can prove to be an excellent stepping stone for the Olympic champion. While Peaty’s similar stance to Michael Phelps may have caught the attention of the swimming world, Peaty’s fans will be hoping that he can once again replicate the same Olympic performances as well as he sets his sights on the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Watch this story: Olympic Legend Michael Phelps Joins Popular Content Creator for a Round of Matt Damon’s Favorite Game