Adam Ramsay Peaty: ‘Glasgow 2026 will be like a homecoming’
He may be a seasoned champion who has been consistently winning major Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European medals for well over a decade, but 2026 represents something of a restart the most successful British swimmer of all-time.
This, at the start of the new season, is marked in numerous ways, most noticeably via his new surname, with the three-time Commonwealth champion now known as Adam Ramsay Peaty, following marriage Gordon Ramsay’s daughter Holly, late last year.
When asked about that, his new coaching setup and new hairstyle he begins laughing.
“It sounds like I've had an MOT and just did a whole service package, right?”
The swimmer is relaxed, ahead of a busy year which will see him attempt to qualify for a fourth Commonwealth Games and fifth European Championships. 12 months ago, neither of these events were on his radar.
Ramsay Peaty had been seeking a historic Olympic treble, dubbed the ‘three-Peat’ at Paris 2024, by following up 100m Breaststroke golds at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
He finished 0.02 seconds short of that target and shortly after receiving his silver medal revealed that he had been diagnosed with Covid-19 on the morning of the final.
“Last year I thought I was done,” he reveals. “I thought that swimming had given me everything and in many ways it has and more, but I do enjoy it a lot.
“It’s still my passion and I love racing.”
Had the Englishman chosen to end his career after Paris 2024, he would have done so as an already established all-time-great of the sport. The 31-year-old pauses when considering how to answer why he chose to return to “gruelling” day-to-day training.
“I've dealt with the good and the bad, but I wouldn’t have been happy (stopping),” continues the three-time Olympic champion.
“I think that's what makes me different, because I'm not content. You don't go on this career or crusade of constantly finding their ‘one percents’, if you are content with a medal, you are never content.”
The prospect of returning to the scene of Ramsay Peaty’s first senior international successes – 100m Breaststroke gold and 50m Breaststroke silver at Glasgow 2014 – played a strong role in his comeback.
“It’s 12 years ago, which was a long time ago, but thinking back it was definitely my breakthrough and I remember the incredible atmosphere,” recalls the swimmer.
While Ramsay Peaty has claimed gold medals in each of his three Commonwealth Games appearances, Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022 marked significant moments in his career, with rare defeats in each leading him to “dark places.”
The swimmer has spoken about subsequent struggles with depression and alcohol dependence, but believes his experiences at those Games in particular have helped shaped the person he is today.
“It's the only championship that gives me tough results really, in the sense that it's always landed in a series of complacency, or a series of feeling a little bit lost,” he admits, before adding firmly; “but it's always corrected me.
“As an athlete you think that it (Commonwealth Games) is perhaps a little bit easier because there are less nations and you’re not at a Worlds or Europeans, but actually because you've got Australia and South Africa, it’s really tough.
“Particularly in my event we had Cameron van der Burgh from South Africa and it was us going one-two most of the time. Obviously, he’s now on the way back (from retirement) which is going to be great and I think that's why it’s such a great championship to do.
“As well with it being in Glasgow, it will be a kind of another homecoming.
“The LA 2028 (Olympic Games) is my ultimate gold, but at the same time it's been an incredible career so far and I look forward to going to Glasgow.
Ramsay Peaty continues; “performing under the England flag is always a great experience and I’m sure the crowd will make it such a special arena to compete in.”
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will run from 23 July to 2 August, with the Swimming programme taking place between 24-29 July.
To find out how you can attain tickets to watch some of the best swimmers on the planet battle it out for the medals at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre, CLICK HERE.
If you have been impacted by any of the themes discussed in this article, please consider consulting NHS guidance around mental health and alcohol misuse support.
