Olympic 100m breaststroke champion Adam Peaty will be a father by the time he defends his title in Tokyo after he announced that he and his partner are expecting a baby in September.
Adam Peaty and girlfriend Eirianedd Munro, who will become parents in September – Photo Courtesy: Instagram
The 25-year-old made the announcement on social media after The Sun newspaper published an article regarding Peaty and partner Eirianedd Munro’s news.
It read:
“So this morning The Sun decided to publish something, without any attempt at contacting me or my team, that is very personal and, by doing so, have attempted to tarnish a truly special time in my life. I won’t let that happen.
“I’m over the moon to announce that Eiri are I pregnant, we are expecting our baby in September. I wanted to release this news next week when we are having our scan and will find out if it’s a boy or a girl but that has been taken completely out of our control.
Please don’t believe everything you read as this story is far from accurate.“I already feel the overwhelming love that I have for our child and nothing will take that away from me. I cannot wait to become a father and the challenges and joy it will bring!”
London 2012 100m breaststroke champion Cameron van der Burgh, triple Olympic medallist Sarah Sjostrom, former world double 100m freestyle gold medallist Filippo Magnini and Peaty’s British team-mate and friend James Guy were all quick to offer their congratulations.
The Exclusive Club Of Dads Who Defended Olympic Swim Titles
Adam Peaty wears his lion on his sleeve – Photo Courtesy: Gian Mattia D’Alberto/LaPresse
Peaty, like Japan’s Kosuke Hagino, assuming they qualify for Tokyo 2020 in 2021, will also become part of another very exclusive club of men who were fathers when they defended Olympic titles, writes Craig Lord.
Michael Phelps became father to Boomer in May 2016 before going on to win five golds and one silver medal at Rio 2016 in August that year.
Michael Wenden, Olympic 100 and 200m freestyle champion in 1968, defended at Munich 1972. His daugher Karen won Australian Miss Universe in 1988 and later married sprinter Andrew Baildon. The couple run the SuperFish Swim Schools in Australia.
In 2000, when Alex Popov, the Russian who claimed double sprint gold in the 50 and 100m freestyle at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games, set off to defending his crowns in Sydney, he was a dad to Vladimir, 3, while Anton was born in 2000 to the legendary sprinter and his former teammate and medley ace Darya Shmeleva.
Peaty will join that club and may become the first breaststroke dad to retain an Olympic crown. Phelps is a pioneer on that score over 200m medley.
Gary Hall Senior, whose son and future 50m free double Olympic champion (2000, 2004) Gary Hall Jnr., was also a father when he made the Olympic podium, for bronze in the 100m butterfly, at his third Olympic Games in 1976.
Beyond the defenders, Ryan Lochte is a father of two and will seek to get on to the USA 4×200 free team which won gold in Rio. Daiya Seto, who won double IM gold at last year’s World Championships and had been on scorching form since, became father to a daughter Yuwa in 2018.
Hagino won 400IM gold in Rio and, after some turbulent times which saw him sit out last year’s World Championships citing a lack of desire and motivation, had recommitted to Tokyo.
You will be the best Father ever !!! Xxxx
on breaststroke… Mr. Phelps was pretty quick, as were Mssrs, Wenden and Popov 🙂
❤️ congratulations ?
Congratulations
Joe Stott
Congratulations ?
Get some boi
Congratulations from your family in Wales ???????. Thanks to the sun for ruining the announcement.
Congratulations
Adam congrats from The us..I admire you.
Hope your girlfriend stay commitment.
& Support you , properly.