Table of Contents
Widely regarded as the greatest male breaststroke swimmer of all time, Team GB’s Adam Peaty has three gold medals, eight world titles and a host of world records to his name.
The 29-year-old rose to Olympic stardom in 2016 at the Rio Olympics, where he won his first medal, a gold in the men’s 100m breaststroke, becoming Britain’s first male Olympic swimming champion since 1988.
His appearance has changed significantly from his first Olympics in Rio to now, with the Englishman previously being a blank canvas unlike now where he is covered in tattoos.
Tattoos have become increasingly popular among some of the world’s most prominent athletes, with many using body art to symbolize their successes in their respective sports.
Peaty is no different, as he has several tattoos all over his body, each with a special meaning for the British swimmer. Here we tell you how many tattoos Adam Peaty has and what they mean.
When Peaty first burst onto the Olympic swimming scene, her body was a blank canvas.
However, that soon changed and the 29-year-old is now covered in ink, with most of it containing meaningful messages for the three-time gold medalist.
What tattoos does Adam Peaty have?
The subtle yet distinctive ‘H’ tattoo
One of Peaty’s smallest and most subtle tattoos is the “H” tattooed in the center of his chest.
The subtle and delicate tattoo is a tribute to his current girlfriend, Holly Ramsay.
Holly, daughter of TV chef Gordon Ramsay, met the gold medal winner following her appearance on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021, where she competed alongside her sister Tilly.
Holly also has a subtle tattoo dedicated to Peaty, a small “A” symbol behind the back of her ear.
The subtle and delicate “H” tattoo is a tribute to his current girlfriend Holly Ramsay.
Peaty’s religious tattoos
Two of Peaty’s most prominent tattoos are located below, on the star athlete’s forehead.
The 29-year-old has a rather large cross, with the phrase ‘into the light’ located in the centre of his torso.
The tattoos symbolize her connection to her faith, which came after a spiritual awakening following a few troubled years with her mental health and struggles with alcohol.
The 29-year-old has a rather large cross, with the phrase ‘into the light’ located in the centre of his torso, paying homage to his faith.
lion tattoo
The first of Peaty’s tattoos that pays tribute to his Olympic successes is the giant lion located on his left shoulder.
The gold medalist received his impressive piece of ink in recognition of his first Olympic gold medal, which he earned at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The striking black and grey lion mural includes the Roman numeral XXVI inscribed beneath it, which translated means 2016, a nod to the year he won his first Olympic medal and set a new world record in the men’s 100m breaststroke.
Peaty’s giant lion is a tribute to his first Olympic triumph at the 2016 Rio Games
Olympic rings
Continuing the Olympic theme on his left arm, Peaty has the Olympic rings tattooed on the inside of his left bicep, accompanied by the word “balance” underneath.
The specific wording is a nod to her belief that you must maintain balance in all aspects of your life to be successful.
Peaty has the Olympic rings tattooed on the inside of his left bicep, accompanied by the word “balance” underneath.
Poseidon
Moving further down her left arm, the theme of the Olympics and water continues with a striking image of the Greek god Poseidon.
Poseidon, the god of the sea in Greek mythology, represents Peaty’s connection to water. The piece also includes the words “Courage, Integrity and Faith” engraved on it.
The three-time Olympic gold medalist has the Greek god of the sea tattooed on his forearm.
Warrior
Moving to Peaty’s right side, his most prominent and distinctive tattoo is the huge Spartan warrior he has tattooed on his right shoulder.
The striking artwork also has Latin script incorporated into it.
For his right arm, the 29-year-old opted for a warrior theme that features a huge Spartan warrior on his right shoulder.
Conquer the sword of your demons
Along his right arm, the three-time Olympic gold medalist holds a large sword with the phrase “Conquer Your Demons” written on it.
Peaty has been open about his past struggles with mental health in the past and this tattoo reminds him of how far he has come in recent years.
Peaty also has a sword accompanied by the phrase ‘Conquer your demons’ on a ribbon wrapped around the sword.
Fuel and driving
Lastly, Peaty has the words “Fuel” and “Ride” tattooed on his fingers, believed to be a current reminder of his fourth-place finish in the 100m breaststroke at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, driving him to be better.
Lastly, Peaty has the words “Fuel” and “Ride” tattooed on his fingers.