From Olympic Glory to Personal Crisis
British swimming champion Adam Peaty has opened up about hitting rock bottom in May 2022 when a fractured foot became the catalyst for what he describes as a dark downward spiral. The Olympic gold medallist, who secured two gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, revealed he endured three years of hell battling depression, alcoholism and the separation from the mother of his young child.
Finding Salvation in Faith
After taking a break from competitive swimming, Peaty attributes his newfound Christian faith as the key that saved him during his darkest period. The sports star, who began dating his now-fiancée Holly Ramsay during this difficult time, has made the remarkable statement: "I'd rather have my faith and my relationship with Jesus and come second than have a gold."
Born in Staffordshire and raised Catholic, Adam had always been partially spiritual but now actively describes himself as a religious man after joining an Evangelical Church. He attends services almost every Sunday and has incorporated his faith deeply into his daily life.
His return to religion, which ultimately helped his recovery and return to swimming, came after meeting five-time Olympic chaplain Ashley Null. The chaplain helped put Peaty's identity as an athlete into perspective after he lost his once unbeatable streak in the pool.
Adam recalled Null's powerful words: "He said to me, 'An Olympic gold medal is the coldest thing you will ever wear. It feels so warm because you have achieved your goal, but at what cost?'"
The swimmer elaborated on this perspective: "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."
Family Conflict Reaches Breaking Point
As Peaty prepares for his wedding to Holly Ramsay, daughter of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, his relationship with his own family has deteriorated dramatically. The Peaty family have taken to social media to claim they've been overlooked from wedding plans because they are "simple people on benefits" who don't fit with the Ramsays' polished image.
Adam's auntie Louise Williams expressed her anger online, writing: "How can Adam and Holly 'source' sit there and say Caroline wasn't invited because of the way my sister looks? She doesn't suit the look Holly is looking for????! WTF BODY SHAMING A 60 YEAR OLD WOMAN!"
She questioned whether Adam was living by Christian principles, asking: "Yes. Adam is a born again Christian. He's not living by the tenets of Christianity is he? Where is 'honour thy mother and thy father' where is the forgiveness?"
An insider close to the Peaty family claimed it appears Adam no longer feels his nursery worker mother and caretaker father are "good enough for the new one he is now part of." The source added: "Holly comes from a celebrity world, while his parents do not, and his ego and self-importance have grown. He's no longer the lovely boy next door we all remember."
Threats and Police Involvement
The situation has escalated to the point where police have become involved. The Olympic swimmer reportedly had to be escorted from his plane by armed police after receiving threats during his stag do. According to reports, five uniformed police officers flanked him through immigration and baggage reclaim when his aircraft touched down at Manchester Airport.
A friend revealed: "The issues that have been reported don't stem from hen do or wedding invitations; it goes so much deeper. Things escalated over the weekend when someone became increasingly abusive and threatening over text. Adam was trying to enjoy his stag do and was getting freaked out by it all."
The friend added that Holly's parents, Gordon and Tana Ramsay, have been "100 per cent supportive" of the couple throughout the ordeal.
A New Chapter with Holly Ramsay
Despite the family tensions, Adam speaks glowingly of his relationship with Holly, describing her as "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."
The couple honoured their faith when announcing their engagement last year. Holly shared a picture of her ring while quoting Corinthians from the New Testament: "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13".
Adam has revealed that Holly's willingness to embrace his church community convinced him she was marriage material. He wrote on Instagram: "You came to church with me and joined the incredible community we have there without a question. Matthew 19:6. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."
The couple's ceremony is planned to take place at Bath Abbey before guests head to the lavish country estate Kin House.
Adam now prays every day without fail and has permanently inked his devotion with a cross and the words "Into the Light" on his torso among his collection of large tattoos. As he looks toward the future, the Olympic champion emphasizes that his priorities have fundamentally shifted: "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."
