Pregnant Holly Ramsay was in the stands on Monday to support her husband, Adam Peaty, as he competed in the 50m breaststroke final at the Commonwealth Games. The 26-year-old, daughter of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, was seen cradling her baby bump while watching the event.
Peaty, the world record holder, qualified for the final after finishing second in his semi-final with a time of 26.82 seconds. He faced competition from South Africa's Michael Houlie, who set the pace in the semi-final with 26.61 seconds, as well as Australia's Sam Williamson and Jersey's Filip Nowacki.
This appearance comes after a challenging 100m breaststroke final on Saturday night, where Peaty secured a bronze medal. Following that event, he broke down in tears during an emotional interview, referencing a family feud that he said has taken its toll. He noted that the estrangement from his family has been difficult, stating, "It's hard because I know how hard I've worked. I know the s**t I've been through, which is no fault of my own. It does take a toll."
When asked about his support system, Peaty did not mention his family but instead praised his wife, Holly, who is pregnant with their first child, and his close friends. "It was a lot of people I talk to, obviously my wife, my coach, my best mate Ed. You've got your friends, your teammates," he said.
Peaty has previously spoken about developing a strategy to cope with difficult periods, explaining, "The best way to get everything out in my head, is to just write it out. I write down what is going wrong, what is going right, what can I change, what can't I change and then I've got a battle plan."
The family conflict reportedly stems from 2024 when Peaty and Holly did not invite wider members of the Peaty family to their engagement party or wedding. Holly's hen do also did not include Adam's mother, Caroline. Peaty had previously stated on Instagram that there are "two sides to every story."
His pregnant sister, Bethany, was reportedly the only family member still in contact with the couple until a recent falling out with Holly. Friends of Adam's mother have told the Daily Mail that Caroline is heartbroken about not being able to watch her son compete.
Despite the personal challenges, Peaty expressed his commitment to his sport, stating, "The choices I've made over the last few months have been difficult. At the same time, I'm proud that I got here and that I didn't quit after Paris [Olympics in 2024]. I know I deserve more, and I know I can work for it."
He added that he has had to make tough decisions to focus on his performance and ignore online criticism. "Enough is enough. This goes beyond sport. It's about being decent people. We all have to do better," he commented. Peaty also shared that as a father, his wife's pride is what matters most, regardless of medals.
The swimmer's decision to compete under the double-barrel surname Ramsay-Peaty, with Ramsay listed first, is seen as another point of contention for his estranged relatives. A source close to the family previously stated that while Adam may be wealthy, they possess qualities he lacks, such as loyalty and integrity, emphasizing that "family is forever."