Adam Peaty’s ‘Red Mist’ Before Olympics Draws Predictable Reaction from Gordon Ramsay
Gordon Ramsay empathizes with Adam Peaty after the Team GB star admitted he sees a “red mist” minutes before competing in the Olympics. The iconic swimmer, who is dating Ramsay’s daughter Holly, earned a silver medal in the men’s 100m breaststroke on Sunday, bringing his Olympic medal tally to six. Peaty might increase that number in the men’s or mixed 4x100m medley relay events, depending on his recovery from COVID-19 after testing positive.
Peaty, known for his intense competitive spirit, showcased his emotions in an interview following his recent bronze win. Before the games, Peaty discussed his pre-race mindset with Ramsay on the BBC, revealing the intensity he experiences, which Ramsay, famous for his fiery temperament in the kitchen, can relate to, as per reports The Mirror.
Asked about his pre-race routine, the three-time Olympic gold medalist said, “If anything, I’m trying to calm myself down because I’m too excited, playlist, stretching [or] thinking of happy moments with Holly, George, my mum, and dad. So flooding the mind with optimism and hope until 10 minutes before that race, and that’s when I see red mist and that’s when I start to get really angry.”
Ramsay, known for his explicit-filled rants on TV, shared his understanding of this intense focus. He revealed, “You’ve got that determination to outsmart everyone. With that comes anger that is misconstrued. How do you vent? Because I get it straight off my chest.” Peaty responded, “I do that, but it offends people.”
Peaty now faces a race against time to recover for the weekend’s events after testing positive for Covid-19. Given his well-documented mental health struggles, just being back at the Olympics is a significant achievement. Speaking to the BBC after his silver win on Sunday, Peaty said, “I gave it my absolute all. I executed it as well as I could. It’s not about the end goal; it’s about the process. It doesn’t matter what time it says on the scoreboard, I think in my heart I have already won.”
He continued, “I’m so happy that I can race against the best in the world and still come joint-second. In my heart, I have won. These are happy tears. I gave my absolute best every single day, and I cannot be upset about that.”
Reflecting on his journey, Peaty added, “I’m almost an older man here now. I can’t have that relentless pursuit every single day without a sacrifice of some sort – they come in every single form. It’s very hard to compete with the younger ones, so I’m very happy with that.”