Olympic champion Adam Peaty and his wife Holly Ramsay have publicly celebrated the birthday of his sister Bethany this week, even as a bitter family rift continues to simmer. The couple shared affectionate social media posts dedicated to Bethany, who was the sole member of Peaty's immediate family to attend their wedding last December.
A Birthday Tribute Amid Ongoing Tensions
The 31-year-old swimmer posted a photograph with his sister from a party, captioning it simply, 'Happy Birthday sister.' Meanwhile, Holly Ramsay, 26, shared her own collection of images with Bethany, writing warmly, 'Happy birthday to the best sister-in-law!' This public display of affection for Bethany stands in stark contrast to the reported silence surrounding another recent family milestone.
The Snub That Has Left 'Olympic Nan' Bewildered
Just days before these birthday wishes, Adam Peaty allegedly failed to acknowledge his maternal grandmother Mavis Williams on her 84th birthday. Mavis, famously dubbed 'Olympic Nan' for her vocal support during Peaty's gold medal triumphs at the 2016 Rio Games, is said to be 'bewildered and saddened' by the omission.
A source close to the family revealed to the Daily Mail that there was 'no card, present, text from Adam wishing his nan happy birthday - absolutely nothing.' The insider contrasted this with Peaty's recent public birthday message to Holly's younger brother, Oscar, who turned seven. 'He can post a happy birthday to Holly's brother Oscar five days ago but not his own nan. It is shameful really,' the source stated.
A Deepening Family Estrangement
This incident is the latest chapter in an ongoing feud between the Olympian and his parents, Caroline and Mark Peaty. The conflict became public in November when it was revealed that Adam had banned his mother and father from his wedding to Holly Ramsay at Bath Abbey. His sister Bethany, a carer, attended but has expressed being torn in her loyalties between her brother and parents.
The estrangement appears to extend to his grandmother. The source added, 'He and Holly have totally gaslighted Caroline's mum, his so called 'Olympic Nan'. They didn't even send her a Christmas card or text, and now nothing for her birthday, just silence.' Mavis Williams, whose social media bio proudly declares her as 'Proud Nan to a World Champion Breaststroker', has not been active online since 2024.
New Family Dynamics and Public Scrutiny
Since marrying into the Ramsay family, Adam Peaty has developed a close bond with his father-in-law, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. Gordon recently revealed that Adam now calls him 'dad', sharing, 'He messaged me and said, 'Hey dad, what have you got? Hey dad, are you around later?' And it's just like, 'Oh my God'. Incredible.'
The family drama has also played out in the public eye. Earlier this year, a Ramsay family documentary featured a brief clip of Adam and Holly's engagement party. Prior to its release, Caroline Peaty demanded she be removed from the footage, though she appeared only fleetingly. Bethany Peaty herself has given interviews discussing the difficult position she finds herself in, caught between her brother and her parents.
As Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay celebrate one family member's birthday with public fanfare, the reported snub of his supportive grandmother highlights the complex and painful nature of this very public family estrangement, leaving questions unanswered about the future of these fractured relationships.
