In his 2021 autobiography, Adam Peaty details growing up “on the poverty line” and his outcry against inequality, he didn’t hold back on his more negative traits.
Adam Peaty may have scored as many headlines as he has medals following the dramatic rupture between he and fiancee Holly Ramsay and his mum Caroline Peaty, but self awareness isn’t something he’s lacking in either.
Adam Peaty has finally spoken out following reports of a family feud, but writing in his 2021 autobiography, The Gladiator Mindset, Adam admits to the flaws in his character and how it impacts his loved ones. Referencing being ‘super focused’ on his swimming career he says, “Some of the closest people to me take it personally and despite my reassurances that I really do care, they think that I’ve changed through success and as a result I am ashamed of them and that I should spend more time with them.”
Adam, 30, who is set to wed Holly – daughter of Michelin starred chef Gordon – in Bath next month, is surprisingly candid in his book about his shortcomings dubbing himself a ‘selfish athlete’ admitting how it can sometimes appear as if he lacks empathy.
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The family feud erupted two weeks ago when Adam’s aunt, Louise Williams, criticised Ramsay, 25, for not inviting his mum to her hen party which Victoria Beckham also attended. It also appeared that she’d been uninvited from the upcoming nuptials.
Tensions continued to simmer with claims Caroline offended the bride-to-be by wanting to wear cream on the wedding day before reports Adam’s brother, James Peaty was arrested over allegations he sent threats to Adam on his stag do.
Things reached boiling point when Caroline gave an explosive interview where she revealed Adam was “in Gordon Ramsay’s clutches” adding how she spent Adam’s childhood taking him to swimming training.
According to reports, Adam’s brother James, who had been initially requested to be a groomsman for his wedding, was “fuming” after Adam detailed his drug use in the novel. Caroline has been “broken” by his aunt, who has also attacked the saga as “s*** show”.
Adam’s sister Bethany appears to be the only person who will be the only one who will be present for the wedding the following month. Additionally, he online listed his sister in a statement.
In his first post since the feud began, he said: “For those who know me personally, you know that I work so hard on trying to improve myself as a person who wants to contribute to making the world a better place.
Even in these challenging times, I am continuing to learn about myself and how to become the man I want to be: a good partner, father, businessman, friend, and athlete. We don’t ask for sympathy; instead, Bethany, Holly, and I will get through this. Simply put, we need people to realize that every story has a different storyline. Thank you to those of you who have shown kindness and understanding. It is greatly appreciated.
His wife-to-be Holly also shared the post with her 400, 000 followers on her social media as a show of solidarity.
In his book, Adam even acknowledges that he perceives himself to have “a bit of a split personality” and that being around someone else’s is unpleasant. He attributes this to his relentless pursuit of perfection in his sport and what it takes to compete in swimming.
It clearly paid off though, he broke 14 world records and remains the world record holder in both 50m and 100m breaststroke. He went on to star on Strictly in 2021 which is where he met Holly whose sister Tilly was also competing in the dance show that year. The glitzy world of showbiz, is a world away from Adam’s more humble upbringing in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire as one of four growing up on the ‘poverty line.’
He fought against feeling bad that his mother had to fill the car with gasoline to take him on the 40-minute swim-training journey. He states, “I wanted my mother to drive a nice car, I wanted my parents to make more money, and I wanted to let you know that our summer vacation was an adventure.”
In an interview with The Guardian, Adam admitted that his feelings of resentment as a child have always been indelible. Although I am a working class person, there are millions of other people working as well. They are unable to afford luxury items because they live paycheck to paycheck. You had to fight for what you had because I had two brothers and one sister in a larger family, and I always had hand-me-downs because I was the youngest. Because my parents have sacrificed so much for me, I don’t want to sound harsh.
Any financial struggles seem like distant memories because his father-in-law is reportedly helping him build a million-pound empire. Adam continues, “I had an iron resolve to do well and rise above my circumstances when that inequality erupted in me as a child.” My desire for more had a raw form of ambition embedded in me.
Quercus Publishing has just published The Gladiator Mindset by Adam Peaty.
Source: Mirror
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