RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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If you know what you are doing wrong, you can at least do something about it.
Adam Ramsay-Peaty, however, appeared at a loss after his second bronze medal of the Commonwealth Games.
"Nothing makes sense this week," the 31-year-old told BBC Sport.
Things that once came so easily – namely, speed and winning over one or two lengths of a swimming pool – now look out of reach.
So is this the end of the road for one of Britain's greatest Olympians, or can he turn the tide in time for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028?
One thing Ramsay-Peaty, who went eight years unbeaten in the 100m from 2014 to 2022, did appear certain of was the need to change his training.
"I am working way too hard," he said. "I need to look at that."
Former freestyler Karen Pickering, who won her last Commonwealth title aged 30 in 2002, said she thinks Ramsay-Peaty "means is he is doing too much rather than too fast".
He has always been a brutally hard worker, one keen to push himself to his limits.
"I don't think more racing or training is the answer," Pickering said.
"More rest is understanding what your body needs - maybe not being around doing interviews at 11pm.
"It is learning to recover quicker. What do I need to eat? What do I need to drink? How do I get that lactic acid out of my body - massages or ice baths?
But Scottish former breaststroker Ross Murdoch, who was Ramsay-Peaty's first rival and spent much of his career racing and training with the Englishman, said: "I know Adam and he will find it hard to take his foot off the gas."
Even with a more bespoke training programme, Ramsay-Peaty cannot escape the hard facts.
Only six swimmers have won Olympic gold after their 30th birthday and only two – Americans Anthony Elvin and Dana Torres in 2016 and 2000 respectively – have done so aged over 33, the age Ramsay-Peaty will be during the LA Olympics.
When he returns to the pool in the European Championships next month he will face a stronger field than in Glasgow - one featuring Olympic champion Nicolo Martinenghi.
Ramsay-Peaty is also facing increasing pressure from Filip Nowacki, the 18-year-old from Jersey he mentors. Nowacki beat him to silver on Saturday and begins Wednesday's 200m event as favourite.
Still, Pickering says there are easy gains for Ramsay-Peaty to make as he attempts to get back to the top.
"He has never had a good start but I would say his starts here have been pretty average," she said.
"He doesn't seem to be deep enough in the water.
"Once he would swim a 50m breaststroke, give them a head start and win because he was swimming so fast. Maybe that hasn't been a priority.
"I would look at those skills and go back to basics. They are a relatively simple fix."
While Ramsay-Peaty has not found his best form in Glasgow and looks unlikely to touch his best times again, it would be wrong to say he has lost his pace altogether.
His time in the 100m breaststroke at the British Championships in April - 58.97 seconds - would have won Commonwealth gold.
His struggles have also come amid issues away from the pool.
He took a break from the sport in 2023 after issues with his mental health, and this week spoke of the "toll" external issues have taken.
When he married Holly Ramsay last year his parents were not present. He has had two different coaches since his long-time mentor Mel Marshall left for a job in Australia after the 2024 Olympics.
"Coming into the meet, he was vocal saying his priorities have changed, that winning isn't the most important thing in his life," Murdoch said.
"His young family will clearly be his priority, but the expectations of how the meet was going to go certainly haven't met the reality.
"In his heart of hearts did he really mean the swimming isn't the priority for him?
"I don't think that to be the case. I know Adam better than that. He will always want to fight and be the best he can be."
Ramsay-Peaty has said he wants to continue to LA.
He raised the prospect of racing only the 50m event in the future, given sprint events usually suit older athletes compared to the longer distances.
"Adam has always had a strong 50m," Murdoch said.
"At the start his skills were not what set him apart from everybody. It was his raw speed and power. That is the thing that really shone through.
"I don't believe that has gone. It is maybe the simple things that have gone away.
"I don't write him off on a 100 breaststroke. That raw speed will come back as your body recovers."
Pickering said: "[His pace] hasn't gone anywhere. He just couldn't access it.
"It is finding the best way to bring that out in an event like this.
"He should take some time to work through what has happened because it is a lot, but I wouldn't write him off."
Commonwealth Games medal table and results
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