As Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay’s family feud appears to heat up, the Mirror takes a look at the bride and groom-to-be’s rollercoaster journeys from alcohol difficulties to finding God
Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay both hit rock bottom before finding God. However, their faith has come under fire amid a family fall-put after his devoted mum reportedly wasn’t invited to influencer Holly’s swanky Soho Farmhouse hen do.
And now, it’s been reported that the Olympic swimmer has banned mum Caroline Peaty from his Christmastime wedding altogether. Swimming gold medallist Adam, 30, is set to marry 25-year-old Holly at Bath Abbey next month, and has incorporated her famous family into his plans. Chef dad Gordon Ramsay was invited along to Adam’s stag do, while mum Tana Ramsay joined the swish girls’ night.
However, it would appear that Caroline has been left out in the cold, as reports suggest that sister Bethany will be the only Peaty family member in attendance at the Abbey. As has been suggested by one irate relative, this apparent snub isn’t exactly in keeping with the faith adhered to by these two born-again Christians.
Here, the Mirror takes a look at Adam and Holly’s rocky road to faith, which has seen them go from battles with alcohol to finding peace through Sunday services.
READ MORE: Adam Peaty’s aunt brands Holly Ramsay ‘hurtful’ in message as family wedding row rages on
Hitting ‘rock bottom’
In December 2022, Holly shared that she was marking two full years of sobriety after deciding to go teetotal at the age of 21. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Holly described hitting “rock bottom” during a particularly painful time in her life, which prompted her to take a mindful new direction.
Holly, who has regularly used her platform to raise awareness of matters concerning mental health, wrote: “Today marks two years since I last had alcohol. Two years ago today, I hit rock bottom. I was terrified. I certainly didn’t think I would be where I am today, both physically and mentally. I’ve fought every day since to get where I am today.”
She continued: “I am so grateful to so many people for their support, encouragement and endless love. I will continue to learn and grow every day. I feel lucky to be able to use my voice to raise awareness and break the stigma around mental health. Sending love to anyone who needs it today and always. One day at a time.”
The previous year, in May 2021, Holly bravely opened up about her struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which she developed following two devastating sexual assaults when she was 18.
The influencer shared: “I went to university, studied fashion design, and I loved it. But by the second half of the first year, I was being affected by my PTSD, and I had no idea that this was happening. I was going out a lot, missing class because I’d been out. I wasn’t enjoying myself at all. I was struggling a lot.”
Holly eventually made the decision to drop out of London’s Ravensbourne University and spent three months at the Nightingale Hospital, a leading mental health facility. It was at this point that she reached a turning point.
As explained by Holly: “That was where I was diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety and depression. Since then, I have been in therapy up to three times a week. I now have these diagnoses that I carry around with me. It’s confusing, and I’m trying to take control of my narrative and use that to make something good.”
During a Q&A session held in January 2022, Holly delved into the ways in which sobriety had had a positive effect on her mental health, while acknowledging the challenges that come with being a young person who doesn’t drink booze while socialising. She reflected: “For me, cutting out alcohol has made me so much more present. I’m able to have more fun, and I’m in control. Alcohol plus antidepressants don’t mix well. I made the decision to put my physical and mental health first.
“It can be lonely not drinking, especially at this age, as it’s such a big part of our social lives, but you will find the right people who don’t even care that you’re not drinking and are just happy you’re with them.”
‘Deepest low’
Back in 2020, Adam opened up to the Mail Online about reaching his ‘deepest low’ after the 2018 Commonwealth Games, which saw him take a loss in the 50m race. Known for his extraordinary speed, Adam suddenly became plagued by self-doubt, admitting: “There wasn’t really that much belief in myself.”
It was then that Adam started to spiral, turning to booze and partying instead of his great love of swimming. He confided, “After the Commonwealths, towards the end of the year, I didn’t have any races. And when you involve off-season and you involve partying and drinking, that’s a depressant in itself, so I was doing that a lot. I kind of, not went off the rails, but I didn’t really have that overwhelming motivation to perform at something. And I am a performer, so if I don’t have something to perform at, I completely lose my track.
“Add that in with all that partying and stuff, it wasn’t that great to have that all at once. Then you are on this low where you can’t really enjoy anything, you don’t really see the point of buying nice things or doing nice things, because you don’t get a high out of it any more. It took a long while to recognise what was important to me and what wasn’t. I have found that thankfully now. I know exactly how to treat my body, how to treat my mind, and it’s not by forcing alcohol as much as you can.”
Finding peace through faith
Speaking with The Times in 2024, Adam spoke how how he’s since found peace, which he declared had sprung “definitely from my faith, first”. Where he used to feel “like a god in the pool”, he’s now dedicated himself to God, as a proudly “religious man”. Emphasising his devotion, Adam told the publication: “I’d rather have my faith and my relationship with Jesus and come second than have gold.”
Although he was raised a Catholic and has always had an interest in spirituality, Adam has taken things to a whole new level in recent years. He now prays, attends an evangelical church on Sundays, and even has a cross inked on his torso, a permanent symbol of his Christian faith.
In a separate interview with The Standard, also in 2024, Adam spoke of turning his reliance on alcohol around after “three years of hell”, following s meeting in Melbourne with Berlin-based clergyman Pastor Ashley Null, who works with various professional swimmers.
Once back in Europe, the pair reunited in Nottingham, where Peaty attended his first sermon. He revealed: “I’ve been there ever since”. Reflecting on the moment when he first took a pew at the Nottingham church he now attends, Adam shared: “No one knew I was coming.
“I was just at the back and I was like, ‘if this isn’t meant for me, then what is?’ I don’t think society has the answers I’m seeking, especially as a young man, and it’s nothing to do with being an athlete.”
Religious wedding announcements
It is perhaps no surprise that Adam and Holly, who regularly turn to Bible verses for wisdom, chose to incorporate their faith in their wedding announcements, which were inspired by religious teachings.
Quoting Corinthians in an ecstatic Instagram post, 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 greatful [sic] 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.”
In his own announcement, Adam referenced the gospel of Matthew, penning: “I can’t believe you’re going to be my wife. I’m truly the luckiest man on earth to have such a gentle, caring and beautiful woman by my side. You fill my heart to the brim and give my soul peace.
“You have been with me when I’ve been at my lowest and helped me understand myself to navigate my own darkness. You have also celebrated the highs which have been so many, as for the first time in my life, I’m happy with the man I’ve become. You came to church with me and joined the incredible community we have there without a question.
“Your family have always treated me so generously with their time, emotion and trust. I can’t wait to be joined with them too. I’ve always believed that when two people are engaged and later married that we are no longer two people but we join as one and it’s the biggest privilege to share that with you.
“Seeing you show the love you give to the most important person in my life, George, even from day one, there was never a question about you becoming my wife one day. I’m looking forward to our life together and the many challenges we’ll face.
“I promise to always love you with all my heart. Matthew 19:6 ‘So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate’.”
Aunt’s criticism
Adam’s aunt, Louise Williams, has suggested that the soon-to-be-wed couple still have some learning to do when it comes to the teachings of the Bible.
Taking to Instagram, Caroline, who used to get up at 4 am to take Adam to the pool, appeared to respond to the ongoing feud with a simple yet heartbreaking post, which read: “Crying is a way your eyes speak when your mouth can’t explain how broken your heart is.”
Commenting on her sister’s post, Louise asked: “Yes. Adam is a born-again Christian. He’s not living by the tenets of Christianity is he? Where is ‘honour thy mother and thy father’, where is the forgiveness?”
Louise also offered her thoughts on reports that “normal” Caroline wasn’t invited to the hen do “might have stuck out a bit”. Noting that there was a “certain ‘type'” on the invite list, a source previously told the Mail Online: “She’s a normal woman, not a celebrity. You look at Holly’s Instagram and it’s all so planned, so super-glam and very, very showy. That’s not Caroline.”
In response to this, protective sister Louise raged: “How can Adam and Holly ‘source’ sit there and say Caroline wasn’t invited because of the way my sister looks? She doesn’t suit the look Holly is looking for????! WTF BODY SHAMING A 60-YEAR-OLD WOMAN! JESUS CHRIST ON A CRACKER!”
This isn’t the first time Louise has chimed in on the ongoing row. In a lengthier address directed at the bride-to-be, Louise said: “@hollyramsayy I’m so glad that you had a great hen do. As a bride, you deserve that. However, as a person you were divisive and hurtful towards a woman, who I have loved and continue to love deeply.
“A woman who opened her home and heart to you. You decided, for whatever reason, not to invite her, your prospective mother-in-law, to your hen night, yet Adam invited his father-in-law, your dad, to his stag night. You invited your mum (quite rightly) and even your mum’s assistant, your sisters, your friends, my niece, but not my sister, your future mother-in-law.”
She continued: “I have also seen messages passing between her and Adam about this and other matters and, quite frankly, I expected better of you and definitely of Adam. You have inflicted a hurt on my sister that will take a very long time to heal if ever.”
The Mirror has reached out to the representatives of Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay for comment.
If you’ve been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999
*Frank offers confidential advice about drugs and addiction (email frank@talktofrank.com, message 82111 or call 0300 123 6600) or the NHS has information about getting help.
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