HE is bidding to make history as the first Team England swimmer to win four consecutive Commonwealth gold medals.
But performance in the competition could be eclipsed by the ongoing family feud over to TV chef Gordon Ramsay’s daughter Holly.
Adam Peaty’s bid to make history at the Commonwealth games could be eclipsed by his ongoing family feud Credit: Getty
Devoted wife Holly is pregnant with the couple’s first child Credit: Instagram
Insiders warn that , which escalated after his mother, Caroline, was not invited to the bride’s hen do.
Devoted wife Holly, 26, , headed to Glasgow — which is hosting the 2026 Games — to join Adam.
She and her family are expected to be the only kin he has in the crowd.
It is a stark contrast to previous medal attempts, at which the athlete’s parents and Mark were regularly spotted cheering from the stands.
Now, though, bad blood is all that remains between 31-year-old Adam and his family — with both sides still adamant the other is to blame.
And insiders admit they are fearful that fresh bombshells from Adam’s estranged circle could drop in the coming days.
“Sadly, nothing ever seems to be quiet for Adam and Holly,” a source explains.
“This could be a career-defining moment for Adam, but there’s always the looming possibility that someone from his extended family will try to detonate another bomb.
“They announced their pregnancy last month and, days later, his sister Bethany was stirring things up and claiming she’s at loggerheads with Holly. It’s becoming relentless.
“What happened around their wedding was acutely painful and it keeps being dragged up.
“There appear to be troublemakers in Adam’s extended family who seem to want to try to push a narrative.
“All the while, Adam and Holly are just trying to enjoy their lives together.”
Insiders warn that tensions are still boiling amid the rift Credit: Darren Fletcher – The Sun
Adam look happy and relaxed with Holly’s parents, chef Gordon and Tana Ramsay, at a showbiz bash in February Credit: Getty
Despite the external noise, those close to Adam insist he will be laser-focused as he enters the pool this morning for the 100metre breaststroke heats.
If he makes the final, which is likely, he aims to be on the podium, before diving back in on Sunday for the 50metre breaststroke.
“When he’s in the zone, all Adam thinks about is the job at hand,” a friend reveals.
“But he hasn’t ever faced this level of mischief-making, let alone from people inside his own family.”
Adam, who has 40 medals to his name, brushed off questions about the row and said: “That’s the Adam people should see — the racer.
“Pressure can be given to anyone, but it’s probably best in my hands because the more pressure I’m under, the better I perform.
“At the same time, you need a strategy for managing the noise and we probably haven’t done that as well as we could. But I’ll make sure the swimming does the talking.
“We can’t control every variable in life, but I can stand behind the blocks and not really care about what people’s opinions are.
The beaming newlyweds after their nuptials in Bath last December Credit: Splash
Adam, who has 40 medals to his name, has brushed off questions about the row Credit: Getty
“Being at peace with a 100metre or 50metre breaststroke race is a beautiful place to be.
“Nothing else matters in that moment. That’s the beauty of sport.
“If you can find that state of mind, it’s an incredible place to be.”
Holly, who is due to give birth to a daughter in December, is Adam’s biggest advocate, according to pals.
They say she was mortified by claims from a member of Adam’s family about her relationship with Bethany, who is also pregnant. It was claimed the pair are now at loggerheads — with Holly and Adam allegedly urging Bethany to turn down a paid interview which would involve questions about them being pregnant at the same time.
“It’s disappointing that Adam and Holly have been forced into this narrative again,” a friend says.
“They’ve never fed into it. They’ve never given it oxygen.”
Those close to Adam’s family say they are still grieving what they see as the “loss” of their son.
Peaty shows off his medal haul with proud parents Mark and Caroline, who always cheered him on during competitions Credit: SWNS
Those close to Adam insist he will be laser-focused as he enters the pool this morning for the 100metre breaststroke heats Credit: Getty
In November, The Sun exclusively revealed in a row sparked by a dress for the big day.
At the time, friends admitted their once-close relationship had been irreparably fractured, adding: “Caroline really wanted to be involved in the wedding and had been so excited about it, only to be told not to attend.
“She was in pieces and heartbroken that it’s got to this point.”
The plot thickened after we told how over claims he sent threatening messages to the Olympian during his stag do.
Their father, Mark, tried to play down the alleged incident and said:
“They’re brothers.
“They’ve always been close but, like any normal family, brothers fight, argue, fall out, make up and start all over again. But it’s got out of hand.
“There’s been very little empathy towards Jamie’s genuine mental health difficulties.”
Adam and Holly shared snap with his sister Bethany to wish her a happy birthday in April, before their reported fallout Credit: Instagram
Holly, who is due to give birth to a daughter in December, is Adam’s biggest advocate, according to pals. Credit: Getty
It later transpired that neither Caroline nor her husband Mark , with only Bethany, a bridesmaid, and her boyfriend present for the nuptials.
Caroline later opened up about the snub, admitting: “I’m a strong woman and I can get through anything, but this has broken me.
“The thing with Adam and Holly has broken me and split me and my family.
“If this is what money does to people, I prefer to stay as I am as money isn’t everything.
“Life is more important, and I think Holly and Adam need to learn what is important.
“I have nothing against either of them, other than that you don’t turn against your family.”
In a public plea to Adam, Caroline added: “I know it’s the end. But please, the message I want Adam to hear is, ‘No matter what happens in the future, please know I love you, your dad loves you, and you can come home and talk to me at any point’.
“There’s nothing you’ve done that I would not forgive. I love you so much.
“I hope your is a good one. I don’t wish any ill on you and I want you and Holly to have a long and happy marriage, like your dad and me.
“The reason I’m speaking out is I want all this to end.”
Holly’s dad, chef after the wedding and said in February: “It’s just upsetting.
“It’s all self-inflicted from their side, because we’ve done nothing — none of what you’ve read: no rudeness, no ignorance. We welcomed them. We sent a chauffeur-driven car for them to come to the engagement party and treated them like royalty.”
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THE Commonwealth Games have been a highlight of the British sporting calendar for 96 years and the scene of legendary moments including Roger Bannister’s historic Miracle Mile.
But this year’s competition, which opened in Glasgow, has been scaled back drastically .
The event was thrown into chaos when the original hosts, the city of Victoria in Australia, pulled out in 2023, blaming spiralling costs.
Months of uncertainty followed before 2014 hosts Glasgow stepped in, agreeing to do it again.
But with far less time to prepare, half the sports have been axed. Ticket sales have also been poor, and the BBC – which provided coverage for the past 18 Games – has been replaced by lesser-known TNT Sports, with only a nightly Channel Five highlights show offering limited free-to-air coverage.
Rather than the 20 events on the schedule in Birmingham in 2022, only ten will feature this year. Badminton, hockey, rugby sevens and table tennis are among the popular sports no longer on the agenda.
And there are 2,000 fewer athletes, with a glaring absence of star names.
Olympic gymnast Max Whitlock is injured, and sprinter Dina Asher-Smith – the fastest British woman in history – has pulled out.
Meanwhile, 800metre champion Keely Hodgkinson is prioritising the European Athletics Championships.
No new stadiums have been built this time and the athletics has been moved from the 46,000-seater Hampden Park to the Scotstoun Stadium, which holds just over 10,000.
The scaled-back, smaller Games have saved a fortune. Running costs hit almost £800million for Birmingham four years ago, but Glasgow is spending just £160million.
Despite Caroline’s hopes, communication between the families is now almost non-existent.
When Adam and Holly confirmed last month that they were expecting a baby, it was claimed he told his mum in a text message, described as “formal” and “to the point”.
Former nursery manager Caroline — who is a grandmother already and dotes on Adam’s young son George from his relationship with artist Eiri Munro — is understood to be thrilled for the couple, but sad she is no longer part of their lives. A source says: “Caroline finds it all so painful still. So do members of her close family. There doesn’t seem to be a way back from this and it’s so difficult.
“With Adam and Holly expecting, Caroline would have loved to have been there as a doting grandmother — which she is to Adam’s son George.
“There seems to be very little chance of that ever happening, though.
“She will be watching Adam at the Games from home.
“Her support and love for him has never stopped.
“But she will never be front and centre in his life again and, for any mother, that is a devastating pill to swallow.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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