Gold medal hero Adam Peaty’s girlfriend reacts to splashing star’s historic Olympic victory in Rio
ADAM PEATY's girlfriend says "words cannot describe" her pride after his world record breaking Olympic gold win.
His 100 metres breaststroke time of 57.13 seconds smashed the world record he set in yesterday’s heats, and 19-year-old partner Anna Zair said it was "major emosh" to watch "her spesh" claim victory.
She said via Twitter: "He's done it! Words can't describe how elated we were. So proud and so delighted!"
His feat wasn't bad for a lad who used to be scared of water.
Peaty was terrified as a toddler whenever his mum even splashed him.
But you could be forgiven for thinking he was born to swim by the way he obliterated the best breaststrokers on the planet.
Here in Rio, Peaty ripped up both the record books and history books.
And in doing so, Peaty not only gave Team GB their first medal of Rio 2016, but he also became the first British man to win gold in the pool since Adrian Moorhouse won the same event 28 years ago.
The Staffordshire star, 21, said: “That was one of many motivations going into these Games.
“That was always in the back of my mind - 20 years is a very long time.
“I knew that to be the first Briton to do that would be an honour.
“But going into this race I was so composed and calm. I wasn’t even thinking about that.
“Now I have done it, it is an absolute honour to get that gold for Team GB. It’s so surreal.
“Nothing means more to me than racing for my country, the Queen, the Royal Family and the people back home that support me.
“It was absolutely amazing and definitely the best feeling I’ve ever had.”
Without doubt his most vocal fan, nan Mavis, or rather #OlympicNan as she refers to herself on Twitter, was overjoyed with his achievement.
When Peaty first swam for GB as a teen, only Mavis was allowed to wash his GB kit – as he said: “She does very small loads and keeps the colours together.”
The 74-year-old has become something of a star in her own right online, and she took to social media again to reveal her pride.
“What a race... oooo I’m so proud... he’s a gladiator,” she tweeted.
She’s has also posted a photograph of herself standing outside her Union Jack cladded bungalow, wearing a T-shirt with the words #TeamPeaty emblazoned upon it.
Another image shows her having her nails painted in the colours of the Union Jack.
On Monday morning she told BBC: "I can't explain my feelings. I'm so proud. You can't really tell anybody what you feel - I'm so proud of him.
"I'm very excited for when he comes home, and exhausted.
"He's worked so hard for this and he deserves it and I'm glad he got what he wanted."
Just four years ago during London 2012, Peaty admitted he was ready to go out and “get drunk in a field”.
Nothing means more to me than racing for my country, the Queen, the Royal Family and the people back home
Adam Peaty
But then he saw on TV how his countryman Craig Benson was about to swim in front of a home Olympic crowd in his event.
And that turned out to be the lightbulb moment that brought about tonight’s golden moment.
Peaty’s extraordinary journey would not have been possible without the support and sacrifice of his family, and in particular his parents.
He still lives with his parents, mum Caroline who is a nursery manager and dad Mark, a caretaker at the Lidl down the road, at their semi-detached home in Uttoxeter.
His mum, who used to drive him 40 miles twice a day for training, told BBC: “It was really hard getting up at 4am, taking him swimming for 5am, then coming home, dropping him off, having breakfast, getting ready for work, doing a full day’s work, then going training at night.”
“But it was hard going for Adam because he had school and all the exams but he stuck with it. He was the one who dragged me, not the other way round.
“He never complained about getting up. If I wanted to stay in bed another hour, he’d say: “Come on mum, champions aren’t made in bed!”’
Peaty, who still lives with his parents, admitted: “Sometimes I still go round the house making weird noises and stuff, so in that aspect I haven’t grown up!
“I still like to sit in a room and play games all day, so I’m a kid really.
“But in some aspects, this sport forces you to mature.
“My maturity has come on year and year and hopefully I’m mature enough now to move on and achieve even better things.”
Peaty, who won the world title in Kazan last year, was red-hot favourite coming into Brazil.
He then qualified for the final more than a second faster than his nearest rival, American Cody Miller after setting a new world record in his first heat.
And tonight's two-length showdown went very much as expected, as Peaty led from start to finish to clock a time that shocked even himself.
Peaty said: “Going down that last 50m, I was aware that I was in front, but not by that much.
“I touched the wall, looked to my left and I was like 'Where is everybody?'.
“That swim for me was probably the best I've ever executed, the perfect race.
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“Me and my coach Mel, coming into this meet, thought the best possible race we could do is 57.3.
“So 57.1 is absolutely incredible. I couldn’t believe it when I touched that wall.
“To do that in an Olympic Games is everything I’ve ever dreamed of."
Peaty will be back in the pool on Friday for the heats of the men’s 4x100m medley relay, with Britain in with a shout of another gold.
And he added: “I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight but I’ll soon settle down and get back into training.”
On Monday morning, Prime Minister Theresa May sent her congratulations to Peaty.
She said: “Many congratulations to Adam Peaty and Jazz Carlin for winning Team GB's first medals at Rio 2016 this morning.
“I hope their success will inspire many more of the UK's world class team to fulfil their potential and bring home a medal, just as all those who are competing for the UK in Rio are an inspiration to many more youngsters back home.
“This coming fortnight reminds us all that with the right support, determination and dedication you can get as far as your talents will take you.
“The whole country wishes the team good luck and great success. We are proud of you.”