Adam Peaty reveals how the Ramsays and faith saved him
Just over a year ago British swimming champion Adam Peaty never ‘wanted to see a pool again’ claiming the sport that shot him to fame had ‘broken him’.
A fractured foot in May 2022 became the ‘catalyst’ of his ‘downward spiral’ sparking ‘three years of hell’ where the Olympic hero, 29, was left battling with depression, alcoholism and the separation from the mother of his child.
By February 2023 he made the decision to take a competitive break from the sport, after his goggles filled with tears during a training session where he realised ‘I don’t want to do this anymore.’
Yet thanks to his newly re-found faith and the support of his girlfriend Holly Ramsay’s family, Adam made a triumphant return at the Paris Olympics – adding a silver medal to his trophy cabinet.
The swimmer began dating celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay‘s daughter in May 2023, following the split from his son George’s mother Eirianedd Munro the previous year.
Adam Peaty pictured with his girlfriend Holly Ramsay – daughter of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay
Adam, Holly and Gordon pictured together at the British Grand Prix in Silverstone last year
Adam separated from the mother of his three-year-old son, George, Eirianedd Munro in 2022
Adam pictured competing in the final of the 4 x 100m relay swimming event in Paris
The pair, who met in 2021 when Adam and Holly’s younger sister Tilly were both competing on Strictly Come Dancing, have been inseparable ever since.
As Adam secured his silver medal during the 100m breaststroke race in the French capital, Holly was there on the sidelines cheering him on, holding onto his three-year-old son.
And now, the swimmer has revealed he wants to have more children and looks ‘forward to the future’ with his ‘Hol’.
He told The Times: ‘She’s brilliant. She’s been pinnacle to this moment in my life where I can have peace and I can have that kind of love where it’s not defined by anything else other than the connection we have.
‘It’s great and I look forward to the future’.
When asked what their future together might look like he added: ‘I definitely want more kids.’
While Holly has become his biggest champion, Adam has also been grateful for the support from her family – namely Gordon, who he said ‘inspires me to be successful’.
Gushing over the family, he added that they were all ‘incredible people’ who are ‘very supportive, very welcoming and very loving’.
Alongside his relationship, Adam said his spectacular return to the swimming pool was in part helped by his religion.
Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay kiss on the poolside after the swimmer won silver at the Paris Olympics
The pair met on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 when Peaty and Holly’s younger sister Tilly were both competing on the series
Peaty split from his girlfriend Eirianedd after three years together and apologised for ‘letting down’ his partner and their son in August 2022
Adam, who was born in Staffordshire, was raised Catholic and was always partially spiritual but in recent years he joined an Evangelical Church, where he attends almost every Sunday.
He now describes himself as ‘a religious man’ and even told the paper: ‘I’d rather have my faith and my relationship with Jesus and come second than have a gold.’
His return to religion, which ultimately helped his recovery and return to the water, came after he met five-time Olympic chaplain Ashley Null, who helped put his identity as an athlete perspective after he lost his once unbeatable streak.
‘He said to me, ‘An Olympic gold medal is the coldest thing you will ever wear’,’ recalls Peaty, who wore one of those at Rio 2016 and two at Tokyo 2020. ‘It feels so warm because you have achieved your goal, but at what cost?,’ Peaty recalled.
‘Relationships end, your friends and family are on the back burner, even your own children have to be on the back burner.
‘As athletes, we expect a gold medal to fix all our problems because that’s the only thing we care about, in the sense of job outcome.
‘But as soon as you realise it doesn’t fix anything, it can be the coldest thing because you have sacrificed so much. You have to make sure you address those issues.’
He added: ‘It’s about being a better person. Not only being a better athlete and fulfilling my gift, but also being a better dad for George. There are so many other reasons. It gets quite deep.’
Peaty gives his son George, 3, and girlfriend Holly a hug on the poolside after his Olympic win last month
Peaty kisses his girlfriend after qualifying for the Paris Olympic Games
Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay at Lucky Cat in Manchester earlier this year
Adam now prays every day without fail and has inked a cross onto his torso in the latest in his collection of large tattoos.
It is this along with the support of his family – particularly his number one fan, his nan Mavis – as well as his coach Mel who told him to get back in the pool for a ‘paddle’ that led Adam back to the Olympics.
Agonisingly for the British athlete – and all of his fans – he missed out on a third gold straight at the Paris event by just 0.02 seconds, losing to Italian underdog Nicolo Martinenghi.
Peaty broke down in tears after he spotted his toddler and hugged him on the pool side with little George asking his father: ‘Daddy, are you the fastest boy?
And while the swimmer can no longer claim to be ‘the fastest boy’ after his narrow defeat, for Peaty the time of his 100m breaststroke or silver medal does not matter – all that he cares about is being back in the pool.
‘I gave it my absolute all there. It doesn’t matter what the time says, or the result, because in my heart I have already won,’ he told reporters after missing out on a historic victory.
‘I’m not crying because I’ve come second. I am crying because it just took so much to get here.’
The athlete separated from the mother of his son George and partner of three-years Eirianedd in 2022.
Peaty missed out on a third gold straight at the Paris event by just 0.02 seconds, losing to Italian underdog Nicolo Martinenghi.
Peaty pictured spending quality time with his son, George, 3
Peaty receives his silver medal at the Paris Olympics 2024
His son George was just two years old at the time. Announcing the news via social media, Adam wrote: ‘Eiri and George, I’m sorry for letting you down. My only interest is for the well-being of our family at this difficult time.’
Eirianedd took to her own social media to announce the split, predicting she would face an ‘incredibly difficult’ future.
Their split was in part put down to the doomed ‘Strictly curse’ after Peaty raised eyebrows with his on screen chemistry with pro-partner Katya Jones on the dance floor.
Yet the pair now appear on good terms with each other, with Eirianedd taking to Instagram yesterday to gush in support of her former partner.
Sharing a sweet snap of Adam and George together after his Olympic medal win she said: ‘Congratulations Adam. George is so proud of you. He doesn’t see the worth of a medal but the absolute strength and determination that got you it.
‘These are qualities I pray he inherits. This moment will inspire him and drive him for the rest of his life. Thank you for giving him that.’
His girlfriend Holly, meanwhile, has continued to praise him for his own grit, determination and ‘mental strength’.
‘You help me become a better man everyday and I can’t wait to see what the future holds with you. No one knows me like you do. My best friend. You’re the goat [greatest of all time],’ he wrote in a belated Valentine’s Day post on Instagram.
