Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty has opened up on asking Gordon Ramsay for permission to propose to his daughter Holly, revealing that both men were left in tears after the emotional moment.
The three-time Olympic gold medallist popped the question to the 25-year-old influencer in September last year, having met three years earlier during his time on Strictly Come Dancing. The couple are now preparing to tie the knot in a ceremony in Bath this Christmas, with Holly’s famous father set to play a major role.
As preparations for the big day intensify, Peaty has revealed all about how the proposal came about, detailing the moment he asked the famously fiery chef and his wife Tana for their blessing during a trip to Cornwall. However, despite Ramsay’s reputation, the swimmer revealed he showed his softer side as all three of them ended up wiping away tears.
Asked if he was nervous about meeting for Ramsay for the first time during an appearance on the Live, Laugh, Luke podcast, Peaty said: “Yes and no. I think fame is a very funny one isn’t it, because they’re still human and you have a perception.
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“I was nervous only from the aspect that I really cared about Holly, so I really cared what he thought of me and her family.”
On asking for their blessing, he added: “But I was very traditional, I asked Gordon and Tana for their permission to marry Holly. It was very emotional, we were in Cornwall and I said can we have half an hour, just us three. And I cried, they cried, we had a few hugs, and here we are.”
“I went round and I s*** you not, two abandoned cars, three dead cats, four chickens just roaming around. I was like f*** me I cannot do it here!’ So I went, ‘Think, think, think!’
“Then I thought it’s getting late so will be getting quieter now. But of course, with the Mediterranean, it’s the other way around – everyone comes out at 10pm! So we went back to the hotel, had a lovely villa with a pool. I put on a beautiful classical playlist and got down on one knee.
“I guarantee on the wedding I will be crying all day,” he added, as he revealed that the day itself will be “quite a big” affair, with Ramsay overseeing the food.
Since he and Holly began dating in 2023, Peaty has grown close to her father, who has been equally effusive in his praise of the swimmer, admitting that he and Tana “couldn’t ask for anyone better” to be their son-in-law.
“He’s a very nice guy,” said Ramsay. “He’s so down to earth and so focused and disciplined. He sat us down in Cornwall and he said, ‘Holly is just the perfect woman. I’d like to get your blessing – from you and Tana for her hand in marriage.’
“It was that sort of amazing moment. Everything went quiet. As a future son-in-law, we couldn’t ask for anyone better. He’s so grounded. Those two get on so well. It’s a blessing.”
