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7 months ago
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Adam Peaty revealed how he has found 'peace in the water' after recovering from depression and alcoholism to qualify for this summer's Olympics.
The three-time Olympic champion opened up on his 'past three years of hell' after winning the British 100m men's breaststroke title with his quickest time since 2021.
Peaty has been rebuilding after reaching a low point in 2022, when he split up with Eirianedd Munro - the mother of his son, George - and lost an eight-year unbeaten streak as he turned to a hedonistic lifestyle outside the pool.
Thanks to his blossoming relationship with Holly Ramsay, quality time with his son, and inspiration drawn from his Christian faith, he is getting back to his best.
'I’ve learned to appreciate the moments of greatness for myself,' he said after qualifying for the Olympics with a time of 57.94 seconds.
Adam Peaty has found 'peace in the water' after coming back from a mental health break due to depression and alcoholism
Peaty is now dating Holly Ramsay, 24, daughter of Gordon Ramsay, and she has been influential in getting him back on track
Spending quality time with his son, George, 3, who he had with ex-girlfriend Eirianedd Munro, has been vital
'For me, that was a great swim, executed well – but the most promising thing is that I’m finding peace in the water now, instead of anger and just fighting it, and trying to win like that.
'I’m finding a new version of myself which I’m really liking, and I think that’s a version that can do really well at the Olympics.
'This is a real win for my team, my family and myself. We have come through the past three years of hell.
'I didn’t want to see a pool again. The sport had broken me. I didn’t know what route to go down and so many things got in my way. But now I am waking up each day and enjoying my job. Who knows what the ending is going to be but I am having fun along the way. It may not end up as a fairytale, but it might.'
His heightened performance in the pool has sprung from factors outside it. He took a competitive break in March 2023 to focus on his mental health and has been speaking to psychologists and writing a journal.
He has found a new purpose by coaching children at his AP Race Clinics, while he has been clearing his head walking in national parks and running.
Peaty is in a flourishing relationship with Holly Ramsay, 24, the daughter of TV chef Gordon Ramsay, after they met on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021.
In a belated Valentine's Day post this year, he wrote on Instagram: '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].'
Peaty told Mail Sport last year how attending church had helped him become a 'better person' and a 'better dad'
He split from his girlfriend Eiri after three years together and apologised for 'letting down' his partner and their son in August 2022
He wrote in the caption: 'Eiri and I have decided to go our separate ways. We have enjoyed a wonderful three years together'
The Olympic swimmer and former Strictly contestant took to Instagram to share the sad news with his followers, back in August 2022
They announced their love affair to the world in June and unveiled matching tattoo tributes to one another in December.
The Olympic champion took to Instagram on his birthday late last year to share snaps of himself posing in the infinity pool, below, at the Ramsays' Cornish bolthole, where he has spent most of the festive season.
The tattoo lover, 29, also showed off his new 'H' inking on his chest – shortly before Holly unveiled her A inking behind her heavily pierced ear.
As well as the tattoo snap, Holly gushed over Adam as she shared a sweet post to celebrate. In one picture, Holly wore a sequin dress as she gazed lovingly at her boyfriend during a lavish evening out.
She also shared a snap of them playfully posing for a mirror selfie dressed in matching beige dressing gowns.
His new relationship with Holly has been a stabilisng factor for Peaty, 29, who split up with his former partner of three years, Eirianedd Munro, in August 2022.
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.
But in the wake of the news breaking, Eirianedd shared a statement to her Instagram Story, which read: 'The last three years have been so, so amazing.
He took a mental health break in March 2023 and is besotted with Holly, who he said 'helps me become a better man everyday'
The 29-year-old sees son George every week or two and plays with him here while his son has Spiderman facepaint on
Peaty has won three Olympic gold medals and two silvers and was unbeaten for eight years from 2014 to 2022. He is pictured training at his home during lockdown
'Our little family has experienced so much laughter and love and joy. You guys have been such a significant part of that!
'This next chapter of my life is surely going to be an incredibly difficult one.'
The split came just weeks after Eirianedd awkwardly refused to pass him their son while congratulating him at the Commonwealth Games, after he won gold in the 50m breaststroke.
After the swimmer was awarded his medal, cameras saw him heading to the stands where his then-girlfriend was tearfully watching with their son.
When he reached out to take George from her over the ledge, she could be seen shaking her head, and eventually she made her way back into the crowd.
The split marked another instance of the doomed 'Strictly curse' striking once again, after Adam raised eyebrows with his chemistry with pro partner Katya Jones on the dance floor in 2021.
Adam was the latest in a long line of celebrities whose relationships ended during or after the dance show.
The Olympic swimmer's brother James Peaty insisted the split was not due to his sibling's appearance on the hit BBC dance show, insisting: 'He was in it over a year ago. It has nothing to do with Strictly.’
It seems things are going swimmingly for Holly Ramsay, 24, and Adam Peaty, 29, as they unveiled matching tattoo tributes last year
When Adam Peaty reached out to take George from his partner over the ledge at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, she could be seen shaking her head
Despite his new relationship, Peaty has made a big effort in helping to raise his son, George.
He told Mail Sport last year: 'It was very hard at the start. Like a lot of single parents, you struggle because of the guilt. You want to be together for the children or the child. It’s a four-hour round trip, so it is quite difficult. It’s very hard to be a professional athlete and a present dad, but hopefully one day he understands.’
Peaty has managed to strike a ‘nice balance’ of seeing George every week or two and is ‘very amicable’ with Eiri. But it was while he was some 10,000 miles away from his son, training and racing on the other side of the world over the winter last year, that his struggles came to a head.
‘It really hit me a few times in Australia because I missed my home, missed my family, missed my boy,’ says Peaty. ‘I thought, “Is it still worth doing this?”. I’ve never had to have that conversation with myself. I thought, “I’m going to come home, I’m not really that balanced out here”.’
In September, he celebrated George's third birthday and shared a series of sweet photos to Instagram.
One snap showed the three-time Olympic gold medallist smiling as George perched on his knee with his face painted like his favourite superhero, Spiderman.
'Balloons the same number as my mental age ft spidey and hulk smash,' Adam captioned the post.
Alongside being a present father with his son George, he has developed a Christian faith which has been hugely influential over his life.
Peaty and Ramsay have been flaunting their romance for all to see, with Adam recently professing: 'I love you so much' on social media
In a Valentine's Day post on social media in February, Peaty labelled Ramsay as his 'best friend'
In 2020, he told Mail Sport that he turned to alcohol and partying and 'went off the rails'
As he told Mail Sport's David Coverdale in June last year: ‘I go to church every Sunday. It’s been the last few months and it’s definitely helped.
‘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. But it’s great to be a part of.’
He explained how a conversation with a priest, the five-time Olympic chaplain Ashley Null, helped him put his identity as an athlete into perspective and understand the priorities of life.
'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?
He appeared at an event with a nasty gash above his eye after allegedly getting in a fight with a Team GB team-mate
However, the three-time Olympic champion says his Christian faith has helped him on the road to recovery has opened up on his newfound faith and how it helped him overcome alcoholism
‘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.’
WHO IS ADAM PEATY?
Adam Peaty has been one of Team GB's biggest names ever since he burst onto the scene at the 2016 Rio Olympics by winning his first gold medal.
Since then he has gone onto become a household name with appearances on shows including Strictly Come Dancing, and even has a YouTube channel documenting his exploits.
Now, as Adam announces that he is single after splitting from his girlfriend of three years Eirianedd Munroi, MailOnline takes a look at his decorated past.
Who is Adam Peaty? The swimmer star has become one of Team GB's biggest names ever since he burst onto the scene at the 2016 Rio Olympics
Adam was born in 1994 in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire to parents to Mark and Caroline Peaty, and despite his sensational swimming skills, at a young age he had a fear of water.
His grandmother Mavis Williams said in 2016: 'He used to scream every time he got in the bath. And when his mum used to take him to the pool he used to scream there.
'Then one day Caroline's friend took him and it paid off. And he's been swimming ever since.'
Over: The sportsman announced his split from his girlfriend Eirianedd Munroi on Tuesday after three years together
Adam joined Dove Valley Swimming Club at the age of nine, and quickly began to win races and set club records, and at the age of 12 he joined City of Derby Swimming Club after impressing coach Melanie Marshall with his breaststroke.
The sportsman openly admitted that he didn't start to take his swimming seriously until he was 17, when he saw Craig Benson reach the semi-final of the 100m breastroke at the London 2012 Olympics.
He told CNN in 2016: 'It was then I realized I wasn't taking it seriously enough.'
And Adam's hard work paid off, as just two years later he won gold in the 100m breaststroke at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, before earning another in the 4x100m relay, and silver in the 50m breaststroke.
Rising star: After vowing to commit to his swimming training, Adam won his first gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games
In 2016, Adam became a nationwide star when he swam to victory in the 100m breaststroke at the Rio Olympics, along with a silver medal in the 4×100m medley.
The following year, at the World Championships in Budpest, Adam beat his own 100m breaststroke Championship Record, and the following year he won another gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.
Previously, Adam had been in a relationship with Anna Zair, and she proudly watched on when he won his Rio Olympics gold, and he began dating his now ex-partner Eiri in 2020 after they met on Tinder.
Competitive: Adam joined Dove Valley Swimming Club at the age of nine, and quickly began to win races and set club records, and at the age of 12 he joined City of Derby Swimming Club
Just two months after they started dating, Adam and Eiri revealed they were expecting their first child, and their son George was born that September.
Adam's sporting success continued in 2021 when he competed at the Tokyo Olympics, and won Team GB their first gold medal of the competition in the 100m breaststroke.
Along with sparking elation from fans and loved ones watching the race unfold back in the UK, Adam also went viral with his expletive-laden post-race interview.
He famously declared: 'It's about who f****** wants it more... I'm just so f****** relieved! Sorry about the swearing, I'm very emotional.'
Storming to success: Just two years later, he became a nationwide star when he swam to victory in the 100m breaststroke at the Rio Olympics
Adam was awarded an MBE in the 2017 New Year's Honours List, before being upgraded to an OBE in 2022 for services to swimming.
In 2021 Adam was also nominated for Sports Personality Of The Year, finishing in third place.
It's also no surprise that he endures a gruelling exercise regime to keep himself in top shape for competition, including six days of training per week, and consuming up to 8000 calories a day.
Following last year's Olympics, Adam revealed he was taking a year-long break from competition, and just days later he joined the lineup of Strictly Come Dancing.
Sensational: Adam's sporting success continued in 2021 when he competed at the Tokyo Olympics, and won Team GB their first gold medal of the competition in the 100m breaststroke
Determined: It's also no surprise that he endures a gruelling regime to keep himself in top shape, including six days of training per week, and consuming up to 8000 calories a day
He was paired up with professional dancer Katya Jones, and the pair set tongues wagging when they nearly-kissed during one of their steamy performances.
Adam was said to be 'beside himself' as trolls attacked girlfriend Eirianedd over his near-kiss with his dancing partner, with the insider adding that his girlfriend was 'incredibly supportive' of his time on the show.
Despite originally impressing with his flexible hips and dance moves, Adam only made it to week seven before being eliminated.
In May Adam announced that he would be pulling out of the 2022 World Championships after fracturing a bone in his foot, but surprised sports fans when he returned to competition at the Commonwealth Games earlier this month.
Together: In 2020 Adam began dating his now ex-girlfriend Eiri after they met on Tinder
Surprise! Just two months into their romance, Eiri fell pregnant, and their son George was born in September 2020
Taking to the floor! Following last year's Olympics, Adam revealed he was taking a year-long break from competition, and just days later he joined the lineup of Strictly Come Dancing
Despite a shaky start, Adam landed the only gold he was yet to win in The Games, the 50m breaststroke.
And just weeks after his partner Eiri was seen proudly cheering him on, Adam announced on Tuesday that he had split from his partner after three years together.
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 will face an 'incredibly difficult' future.
The split marked another instance of the doomed 'Strictly curse' striking once again, after Adam raised eyebrows with his chemistry with pro partner Katya Jones on the dance floor last year.
Wow! He was paired up with professional dancer Katya Jones, and the pair set tongues wagging when they nearly-kissed during one of their steamy performances
Riding high! Earlier this summer Adam overcame a shake start, and defeat in the 100m, to win gold in the 50m breaststroke in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham
The sportsman wrote in the full caption of his statement: 'Eiri and I have decided to go our separate ways. We have enjoyed a wonderful three years together, 2 of those with our gorgeous son George.
'Our priority has always been to provide the happiest and healthiest home environment for him, and right now that means ending our romantic relationship.
'This next chapter of my life is surely going to be an incredibly difficult one. I would appreciate that people would refrain from commenting, speculating or messaging.
'I have shared so much of my life, but for now I'm choosing privacy and I hope that you will all respect that.
'I love and appreciate you all so much and I'm so thankful for all the fun and opportunities you've given me.
'I am going to be taking a break from social media, so goodbye for now. Thank you so much for everything.'
It's over: And just weeks after his partner Eiri was seen cheering him on, Adam announced on Tuesday that he had split from his partner after three years together (pictured last year)
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