To all my ex-girlfriends because I never turned into the person I thought I was. And to Naomi Campbell, for not being ready to deal with my addictions.
Who most deserves an apology from you, and why?
Question
How close have you come to death?
Death & what remains
Question
What would you like to be remembered for?
Death & what remains
Question
What keeps you awake at night?
Daily life
Question
How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a favourite failure?
Failure & regret
Question
In the last five years, what have you become better at saying no to?
Daily life
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
A fixed Guardian Q&A prompt asked directly across respondents and years.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
To the people who, because of my career, I cannot spend time with. I have to be selfish, unfortunately.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 January 2022 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 209 →
Philippa Perry
Psychotherapist and author
Everyone. In advance. Just in case.
Engelbert Humperdinck
British singer
My wife. I made mistakes in my early life and hurt her. Everybody thinks the grass is greener, but it’s not. To say sorry to her when she understands will be one of the greatest gifts God has given me.
Robert Carlyle
Scottish actor
To John, a really close friend who died last year. I'd love to see him one more time and say, 'Look, I'm sorry I wasn't around enough during your life.'
More from Adam Peaty
View profile →I was on a cliff in Dartmoor, doing a Royal Marine abseil. I fell upside down and thought, “I’m going to die here.”
As a great man.
The realisation that I am not the best version of myself.
When I lost that 100m final I spiralled. I went quite aggressive. It is an Adam I don't really recognise.
I'm tired, I'm not myself and I'm not enjoying the sport as I have done for the last decade. Some might recognise it as burnout; I just know that over the last few years I haven't had the answers.
Recorded
Public statement announcing his break from swimming, April 2023, The Independent, 1 July 2023
source ↗
More on failure & regret
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- What is the worst thing anyone has said to you? 124 answers
- Which moment embarrassed you most? 124 answers
- How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a favourite failure? 77 answers
- What is the hardest thing that has happened to you, and what did you carry out of it? 39 answers
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Joe Wicks, Max Whitlock, Gabby Logan, Paul Merson, Ian Wright, Mo Farah
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