Adam Peaty's three-word claim about what girlfriend's dad Gordon Ramsay did speaks volumes

Olympic champion Adam Peaty has revealed how celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay helped rescue him from the "deep, dark hole" of depression as he started his relationship with the TV star's daughter. The three-time Olympic gold medallist with Team GB, who competed in Paris just last year, has enjoyed a stellar swimming career spanning numerous victories.

The 30-year-old first achieved Olympic success at the 2016 Rio Games, securing gold in the 100m breaststroke and silver in the 4 x 100m medley relay, before delivering a spectacular performance at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. He departed Japan clutching gold medals in both the 100m breaststroke and the 4 x 100m mixed medley relay, alongside another silver in the 4 x 100m medley. Additionally, Peaty demonstrated excellent form at last year's Paris Games, claiming silver in the 100m breaststroke after being narrowly defeated by Italy's Nicolo Martinenghi.

Nevertheless, existence beyond the swimming pool hasn't always been plain sailing for Peaty, who descended into a downward spiral of depression and alcoholism when his eight-year winning streak ended at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Simultaneously, he also parted ways with his son's mother.

The aquatic superstar characterised the period that followed as "three years of hell" before eventually getting his professional life back on course when he began a relationship with Holly Ramsay, daughter of television chef Gordon. The pair initially encountered each other when Holly's sibling, Tilly, participated alongside him on the 2021 series of Strictly Come Dancing, with a romantic connection between Adam and Holly developing two years afterwards.

And Peaty shared how Gordon played a crucial role in spurring his career revival, converting him from a party-goer to a concentrated and disciplined Olympian once again. Peaty told The Sunday Times last April: "He [Ramsay] is an incredible energy to be around and an incredible person to have that guidance from.

"Gordon is a high performer. He worked his way up to the upper echelons of his industry and works in a place where there's no bull****. I take a lot from that and from the professionalism he has every single day with a relentless pursuit.

"So, when I see that, I'm like, 'Yeah, why can't I work like this? Why can't I do this every single day? Why do I have to be so emotionally engaged with things?'"

Adam and Holly started dating in May 2023, before making their relationship public just one month later. They then revealed matching tattoo dedications to each other in December and announced their engagement in September with a touching Instagram post.

Posting on social media, Holly wrote: "I am marrying my best friend. I truly cannot put into words how I am feeling right now. I still remember how big my smile was the morning I got home from my first date with you.

"Thank you for letting the little girl inside of me feel loved, seen and happier than ever. I love you and I cannot wait to be your wife. I promise to always be there with you and George, I'm so grateful to be in his life and I cannot wait for more.

"Everything is better with you. Everything has been better since you. Here's to forever. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13."

Peaty also appears to enjoy a strong bond with his prospective father-in-law, particularly finding humour when Gordon delivered a trademark jibe during discussions before Paris 2024. Ramsay was grilling Peaty about his post-Olympic intentions, before the Team GB star responded: "Who knows? You're smiling, I'm not going to give you the pleasure. I'm not going to do it. You're trapping me."

Gordon replied in characteristic style: "You're full of s***! You are definitely not retiring. Absolutely, definitely not retiring," before adding: "Very best of luck. Don't f*** this up."