‘Hurt’ Adam Ramsay-Peaty breaks down in tears after surprise Commonwealth Games bronze: Star reveals family feud has taken its toll and admits he ‘doesn’t know what went wrong’

First came an apology. “I’m sorry, guys,” Adam Ramsay-Peaty said as his voice began to shake. She wiped a tear from her face and looked around the Tollcross floor, searching for words.

The bronze medal around his neck felt like a heavy burden. ‘It’s hard because I know how hard I work. I know what I’ve been through, it’s not my fault. ‘There’s a price for this.’

After hitting the podium, the 31-year-old actress walked around the pool and stopped to take selfies with adoring fans. An Englishman had not received such a welcome in Glasgow for a long time.

He stopped to hug his pregnant wife Holly, daughter of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, before kissing her pregnant belly. They are expecting a daughter in December and, as the swimmer admits, family life has changed her priorities.

‘He’s always so proud of me,’ she said. ‘As a father, it doesn’t matter if you come home with gold, as long as you come home with toys, that’s what I did. That’s what matters.

‘As you can tell, emotion is something I will always carry. I will never be afraid to show weakness because it is so important to create stronger people, stronger men, stronger fathers, stronger husbands.

‘I think it’s like, ‘Damn, how did I work so hard at this age?’ – then you will get such a result. I’m better than this. Maybe it’s because I spent two years outside, but it hurts. There’s a lot going on in my head right now.’

Adam Ramsay-Peaty stopped to hug his pregnant wife Holly, daughter of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, and then kissed her pregnant belly.

The couple married at Bath Abbey on December 27 last year.

Ramsay-Peaty was after him from the beginning. He was not the leader of the group. Perhaps he could have done better in the 50 metres, but there he finished almost three seconds behind the world record by two lengths.

Australia’s Sam Williamson won gold and 18-year-old Filip Nowacki from Jersey claimed a sparkling silver medal, boding well for the future of British swimming.

“I’m not crying because it’s bronze instead of gold,” Peaty said, choking up throughout. ‘I cry because I know swimming could be better. I really don’t know what went wrong in the last two weeks but something isn’t right, whether it’s speed or focus.

‘I feel like I can’t put in any more, so I’m like, ‘What’s the point of 5.30am?’ you ask. What’s the point of measuring every day? What’s the point of feeling exhausted all the time? What’s the point of saying ‘No’ to all family activities because of education?’ Because you want perfection and that’s not perfection for me.

‘I enjoy a scrap but I lost that scrap in the last 25 metres. This is sport. Most of the time I won the scrap. For some reason the Commonwealth is this humble reminder.’

Wedding stories, family fights and abuse on social media have caused great damage. The pool should have been his escape, but he swam away with the world on his shoulders.

‘People who comment and read headlines should look at themselves in the mirror. Ignoring this comes with a price. This didn’t play a role in the outcome but it needs to stop. Do better. ‘I don’t want young Filip to go through this.’

Ramsay-Peaty overcome with emotion in mixed zone reflected in bronze medal

During her decorated career, Ramsay-Peaty was so far ahead of the field that she had to look in the mirror to find an opponent. He broke 14 world records, displaying a similar dominance to Swedish pole vault champion Armand Duplantis. They are untouchable. Now people will ask whether time has caught up with Britain’s best swimmer.

Nowacki is still awaiting his A Level results but the Millfield student has already broken his idol’s youth records. In 2012 Jason Kenny beat Chris Hoy to become cycling’s top dog. Lamine Yamal defeated Lionel Messi in last week’s World Cup final. Swimmers believe it’s only a matter of time before Nowacki puts on a similar display.

“You have a very bright future ahead of you,” said Ramsay-Peaty, whose golden earrings caught the camera’s light. ‘He is my favorite in the 200 metres. Definitely faster and about 25 kg lighter! While he has miles to go, my miles are probably coming to an end. I guess two years isn’t that long of a time to try to find that in me.’

Side by side they look like David and Goliath. Nowacki is five inches shorter and doesn’t have the same biceps. Ramsay-Peaty changed the game with his powerful upper body strike, but Nowacki’s strength lies in his striking. He keeps his hips high and moves more gracefully than his senior, who struggles to move through the water.

Nowacki will announce his mathematics, economics and physics exam results during the European Championships next month. He then plans to enroll at Loughborough University, where he can master his craft in time for the LA 2028 Olympics. While Ramsay-Peaty isn’t ready to step aside just yet, the big medals are ahead of her.

‘It’s very special for me to compete with one of the best in the world – arguably the greatest breaststroker of all time,’ said Nowacki, who won the world junior championships last year with a time of 2:07.32 and will medal at all senior Olympics except the first.

Ramsay-Peaty knows a promising swimmer when she sees one. He has already signed Nowacki to his agency and will continue to mentor his prodigy.

‘If I compare myself to 12 years ago in 2014, it’s very exciting where Filip and his career can go,’ he said. ‘It’s a sport, it’s beautiful, but it can hurt.’