Former Olympic boxing champion Nicola Adams has provided a candid insight into the breakdown of her long-term relationship with model Ella Baig, pointing to her partner's career in adult content creation as a significant factor.
The End of a Seven-Year Relationship
The sporting icon, who made history as the first woman to win Olympic boxing gold at London 2012, confirmed her separation from Baig earlier in 2025. The couple had been together for seven years and share a two-year-old son, Taylor Nate, who was conceived through IVF.
Adams, who is 42 years old and fifteen years Baig's senior, explained the difficult decision in an interview with The Sun in March. "I have always been incredibly supportive of Ella's career and the choices she has made, including her work on OnlyFans," Adams stated. "However, as much as I respect what she does, I can't deny that it has had an impact on our relationship."
Attempts to Salvage the Romance
The pair reportedly made concerted efforts to save their partnership, especially for the sake of their young son. An insider revealed they turned to couples therapy in a bid to resolve their issues. "They really tried to make it work, especially for the sake of their son, and even went to couples' therapy, but came to the conclusion that they were better off separating," the source said.
Adams herself elaborated on the heartbreak, admitting the situation challenged her mental strength. "I've found this situation challenging at times and have had to reflect on how sustainable it is - especially as we raise our son together," she said. The former flyweight champion described the split as a "gradual process" that was first discussed five months prior to their final decision.
Moving Forward and New Ventures
Adams confirmed she is not currently involved with anyone romantically and is focusing on co-parenting and new professional projects. She is channelling her energy into a fresh BBC podcast and a high-profile television appearance.
To round off a challenging year, Adams will feature in the Gladiators: Celebrity Special on BBC One on Christmas Day at 3:45pm. She will join Joe Wicks, Vogue Williams, and Sam Thompson in facing the show's formidable Gladiators.
Speaking about the appearance, Adams said: "I'm absolutely buzzing to be part of the Gladiators: Celebrity Special. It's such an iconic show... I may be a champion in the boxing ring but this is different." This follows her previous groundbreaking reality TV stint on Strictly Come Dancing in 2020, where she was part of the show's first same-sex pairing.
The couple had previously been forced to deny rumours in November 2022 that they had secretly married in Mexico. Adams, who retired from boxing in 2019 after defending her Olympic title in Rio, now aims to build an amicable future with Baig as they co-parent their son.
