Olympic gold medallist Adam Peaty has been accused of a shocking betrayal that has shattered his friendship with a fellow Team GB swimmer, culminating in the friend's exclusion from his recent wedding to Holly Ramsay.
A Friendship Shattered by Business Expansion
The rift reportedly began last year when Peaty's swimming academy, AP Race, expanded its operations into Saudi Arabia. This move proved deeply controversial for his friend and former training partner, Michael, a 31-year-old Olympic gold medallist who has become a prominent voice for LGBTQ+ visibility in sport.
Michael had been serving as a diversity and inclusion ambassador for the academy. The decision to operate in a country where same-sex relations are illegal and punishable by imprisonment or even death left him feeling devastated. A source told The Sun: "Michael fights so hard for LGBT rights, so the Saudi Arabia move was a dagger to the heart. It left him feeling devastated and betrayed."
The Wedding Snub and Family Fallout
The feud reached its peak over the weekend of Peaty and Ramsay's nuptials. Michael, who had attended the couple's engagement party last year, was reportedly uninvited just days before the ceremony. Sources claim the final straw was Michael becoming "too close" to Peaty's estranged mother, Caroline, who was also disinvited from the wedding following a separate row.
This was not the only last-minute guest list change. Peaty is also said to have revoked invitations to his great aunt and uncle just four days prior, sending an impersonal automated message. The couple had already spent hundreds of pounds on gifts, outfits, and accommodation.
Within Peaty's immediate family, only his father Mark and sister Bethany were present. His father was reportedly told he would have to sit "behind the plus ones," while Bethany was handpicked by Holly Ramsay to be a Maid of Honour. This decision has allegedly left their mother Caroline feeling "betrayed," with insiders claiming Bethany has changed to fit the Ramsays' "celebrity lifestyle." Peaty's two brothers were not invited.
Cryptic Posts and a Broken Bond
Just days before the wedding, Michael shared a cryptic social media post reflecting on a turbulent year. He wrote about having "been dropped by friends, and left broken by them," while also speaking about new opportunities and learning from mistakes.
The breakdown marks a stark contrast to their once-close friendship, which saw Michael publicly support Peaty when he joined Strictly Come Dancing. The swimming community is said to be upset that Michael is no longer part of the AP Race team. As the newlyweds honeymoon, the fallout from the business decision and subsequent personal rifts continues to reverberate.
