Adam Peaty's mother has issued a statement after the Olympic champion broke down in tears following his bronze medal win at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, as the family feud over his marriage to Holly Ramsay-Peaty continues.
Bronze medal disappointment
The 31-year-old swimmer finished third in the men's 100 metre breaststroke on Saturday, beaten by Australia's Sam Williamson and 18-year-old Filip Nowacki of Jersey. An emotional Peaty told reporters: 'It's hard because I know how hard I work. I know the s*** I've been through, which is no fault of my own, but it does take its toll.'
He added: 'I'm not crying because it's bronze instead of gold. I'm crying because I know I am better than that. I feel like I couldn't have put any more in and that's where it hurts.' Peaty admitted the family rift had 'taken a toll' on his career.
Family feud background
The three-time Olympic gold medallist married Holly Ramsay-Peaty, daughter of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, in December. He excluded his parents and other relatives from the wedding, with only his sister Bethany attending. Reports indicate the falling-out began when Holly did not invite Peaty's mother Caroline to her hen party, leading to social media clashes and family comments to the press. Caroline previously claimed the couple had 'cut my heart out'.
Peaty and Holly are expecting their first child together; after his race, he kissed her stomach in the stands.
Mother's Instagram response
Caroline took to Instagram after Peaty's interview, first sharing a black and white shot of Cillian Murphy from Peaky Blinders with the caption: 'I forgive people but that doesn't mean I accept their behaviour or trust them. I forgive them for me, so I can let go and move on with my life.'
She then posted a statement, per The Mirror: 'We continue to support Adam from afar. He's our son who we love, whom we supported to reach his aspirations. Our love, our time, our sacrifices were given freely with no expectation of financial reward just genuinely given with the love as any mother and father would do for their child.' She added: 'We are strong, we love and are always there for each other. The very nature of our strength as a family has helped us move past the nastiness, the lies that have been told about us.'
Family source hits back
However, a family source told The Daily Mail on Monday that not all Peaty family members are keen for reconciliation, saying: 'The hurt you feel over a medal does not compare to the hurt you have caused your mother.' The insider claimed Peaty was 'playing the blame game now' and 'the “woe is me” card.' 'Just take accountability for your own actions for once, Adam, instead of blaming us,' the source said.
The source also alleged Peaty had previously 'made comments to friends that we would try and disrupt your games', but as they hadn't been there, 'to blame us for your failure is not right.' They added: 'Don't blame your family for your bronze. You need to look closer to home and in the mirror.'
The source suggested Peaty was 'having a crisis of conscience' and should 'blame himself' for isolating himself from the support network 'that has been there since you were born.' They claimed fame and meeting Holly had 'changed him', adding: 'We don't like who you have become.'
Peaty's own statement
On Monday, Peaty posted an impassioned Instagram statement about his performance, calling his bronze medal 'bittersweet' as he knew 'in my soul that I am capable of much more.' He vowed to 'keep fighting, learning, adapting and striving for excellence until I can no longer give anymore.' He added: 'To the people out there who want to hurt me and my family with comments, I have seen this story a thousand times with other athletes from many sports. We are athletes, doing something we love and that is our deepest passion. As it's said, be the change you want to see in the world, and, I want a better world for the next generation of athletes. Love always wins.'
He also said: 'I am thankful for the opportunity to be able to race again at this level. Thankful for my wife, my friends, my team, and the people in the stands who cheer my name. Racing with my countries' [sic] flag on my cap is the greatest honour.' Wife Holly commented: 'So proud of you, always ❤️.'
The couple first got together in 2023. Peaty also shares son George, five, with ex-girlfriend Eirianedd Munro.
