Adam Peaty has been accused of uninviting one of his former Team GB teammates and close friends from his wedding.
In the lead-up to his nuptials to Gordon Ramsay’s daughter Holly last week, the retired swimmer came under the spotlight after it emerged his mother Caroline had been asked not to attend.
Rumours first started swirling of a family fallout after Caroline was notably absent from Holly’s hen-do at Soho Farmhouse, with sources close to the swimmer then claiming he’d been ‘changed by money, fame and fortune’.
News then broke that Adam’s brother James was arrested on ‘suspicion of harassment’ following his stag do in Budapest, with Adam then releasing a statement addressing ‘challenging times’ and asking people to be aware that there are ‘two sides to every story’.
The couple’s wedding was then held at Bath Abbey on Saturday with over 200 guests, including Sir David and Victoria Beckham, in attendance.
A few days later, on New Year’s Eve, Caroline shared a post on social media, in which she detailed an incredibly difficult year and said she prayed her ‘heart never has to break like this again’.
After her snub from the lavish wedding, it’s now also been revealed that Adam also uninvited close friend and fellow swimmer Michael Gunning due to him ‘staying close’ to Caroline.
Who is Michael Gunning?
Michael, 31, was part of Team GB from 2010 until 2016, also going on to represent Jamaica and set national records at the 2017 and 2019 World Aquatics Championships.
Since retiring he’s also become an advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility and mental-health awareness in sport and media – which has included several presenting projects.
What happened between Adam Peaty and Michael Gunning?
Although he and Adam became close friends after training with Team GB together – just a few days before the Olympian’s wedding, Michael shared a telling post on social media.
‘Wishing everyone a magical and festive week! This year has been crazy…I’ve travelled the world, had incredible new opportunities, learnt more about myself, made mistakes and taken risks, been dropped by friends, but made unexpected new ones, been told “no” far too many times but stepped fully outside my comfort zone. Life isn’t always perfect, and if you’d told me two years ago where I’d be now, I wouldn’t have believed you. But I’m learning that change can be a really beautiful thing and you should never stop fighting for your dream!,’ he shared.
Following that post, a source told The Sun: ‘It’s not just Adam’s family who’ve been affected by the wedding feud, some old friends have been too.
‘Michael was once very close to Adam and Holly and even attended their engagement party last year.
‘But he was uninvited from the wedding as he got too close to Caroline, who has been vocal about being estranged from her son.’
They continued: ‘The family have been in touch with him and he said he is feeling very hurt by the couple – especially Adam, given how publicly supportive he was of Adam when he went through a rough time in 2023.
‘Given how close they once were, Michael never would have seen this coming.
‘Adam really has broken us all by acting this way and now to hurt and snub Michael, the kindest and most genuine person out there, says it all really. It’s clear how much Adam has changed.’
Michael – who is said to have supported Adam throughout his battles with mental health and alcohol problems – also worked as a diversity and inclusion ambassador for AP Race, a company Adam founded in 2019 with his training partner Ed Baxter.
What happened between them?
However, their friendship is believed to have broken down shortly after Holly and Adam’s engagement party in December 2024 – during which Caroline was reportedly unhappy some of her family weren’t there.
Michael, who is said to have stood by Caroline during the family fallout, is reportedly now not on speaking terms with Adam.
Their friendship also reportedly became strained after Michael was left feeling ‘betrayed’ when AP Race expanded to Saudi Arabia – where same-sex relations are illegal and punishable by death.
Michael, known for being the first openly gay and mixed-race swimmer in the UK, felt the move was a ‘dagger in the heart’.
‘Michael fights so hard for LGBT rights, so the Saudi Arabia move was a dagger to the heart,’ a source also told The Sun.
‘It left him feeling devastated and betrayed.
‘Many of those within the swimming community were so upset to not have Michael part of the AP Race team anymore.’
Michael last shared a post with Adam in August 2024 – when he supported the swimmer at the Paris Olympics.
After Adam won the silver medal in the 100m breaststroke, Michael shared online: ‘It’s been a rollercoaster…but I’m so proud of this legend.’
Later that month, AP Race announced the acquisition of the Wave Swimming Academy in Saudi Arabia.
Who else was uninvited from Adam and Holly Ramsay’s wedding?
Caroline and Michael were not the only two guests Adam chose to snub, with his great aunt and uncle also being ‘brutally’ uninvited in an automated message just days out from the wedding.
Adam’s older sister Bethany – who was one of Holly’s three Maids of Honour – was the only immediate Peaty family member allowed to attend the wedding.
Their father Mark was permitted to attend but was told he’d have to sit at the back ‘behind the plus ones’. Like their mother, Adam’s brothers James and Richard were also told not to come.
Ahead of his wedding, Adam released a public statement saying that there was ‘always two sides to every story’.
‘For those who know me personally, you know that I work so hard on trying to improve myself as a person who wants to contribute to making the world a better place,’ he shared on Instagram.
‘I am continuing to learn about myself and how I can be the man I want to be; a worthy partner, father, businessman, friend and athlete; even through these challenging times.
‘My sister Bethany, Holly and I will get through this – we do not ask for sympathy. We just need people to be aware that there are always two sides to every story.’
Metro has contacted representatives for Adam Peaty and Michael Gunning for comment.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE: Inside Holly Ramsay’s close relationship with Adam Peaty’s sister Bethany deepening family feud
MORE: Inside the explosive celebrity family feuds that rocked 2025
MORE: Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay both opt for shock name changes after wedding drama
#Adam #Peaty #uninvited #Olympic #swimming #friend #wedding #friendship
