Victory sealed with a kiss! The moment Adam Peaty's elated girlfriend wraps herself around 'her spesh' and says 'this is the most emotional moment of my life' after his stunning Team GB gold
- Adam Peaty delivered an absolutely astonishing performance to win gold at Rio 2016 Olympics
- The Olympic champion destroyed his own world record and sent shockwaves around the world
- The 21-year-old is the first British gold medallist of Rio 2016 and was likened to Usain Bolt after the final
- And to cap a sensational night for Team GB, 25-year-old Jazz Carlin also won silver in the 400m freestyle
As the whole of Britain cheered on Adam Peaty, there was one person screaming louder than anyone else - the 21-year-old swimmer's girlfriend.
Anna Zair was watching from the stands as he swam the 100m breaststroke faster than anyone else in history – and in the most important race of his life.
Peaty took Britain's first gold of Rio 2016, completing the race in 57.13, a second-and-a-half faster than his nearest competitors.
And waiting to congratulate him was Anna, the 19-year-old Peaty met through the City of Derby Swimming Club 18 months ago, who threw herself into his arms and sealed the victory with a celebratory kiss.
'I'm so pleased and proud of you,' she told the man she calls her 'spesh'.
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Adam Peaty is embraced by his girlfriend Anna Zair moments after taking Gold in the 100 metre breast stroke
Adam Peaty's girlfriend Anna Zair was 'elated' after her boyfriend of 18 months beat the world record to win gold in Rio
Peaty has now swum the seven fastest times in history and twice beat his own world record in three swims in Rio
Peaty's father Mark (right) mother Caroline (left) and girlfriend Anna were in attendance to witness history
Adam Peaty smashed his own world record as he blew away his rivals to win gold at the Rio 2016 Olympics
Peaty swam an absolutely incredible time of 57.13secs in Rio to become an Olympic champion
Peaty's nearest challenger was reigning champion Cameron van der Burgh, who finished with a time of 58.69secs
'I'm just thrilled, ecstatic,' she told MailOnline through her mother Maria.
'He so deserved it after all his hard work. I'm glad I'm over here to see him. It's so exciting and I knew he could do it, I knew he could get gold. He's an amazing swimmer.'
Mum-of-three Maria told how her daughter, who had given up the discipline to focus on studying, was 'absolutely thrilled for him.'
Speaking today from the family home in Cropston, Leicestershire, teacher Maria added: 'Anna has been so supportive and encourages him all the way. As a former competitive swimmer herself she knows the commitment he has to make and exactly what is required.
'She helps him by being there and talking about anything and everything but not swimming! It gives him a welcoming release from all the pressure.'
Anna, who jetted to Brazil last Wednesday to be by her partner's side, 'gets on really well' with him and they hope to build a future together, her mum said.
Maria added: 'We are all delighted for Adam, it is a remarkable achievement.'
Peaty took gold more, with Cameron van der Burgh of South Africa taking silver and Cody Miller of USA bronze in a race that saw the Briton seize the lead from the early strokes and then drive home his advantage in smooth and powerful style.
And to cap a sensational night for Team GB, Jazz Carlin also won silver in the 400m freestyle. The 25-year-old had nearly quit swimming after London 2012.
After nearly two days of disappointments, Team GB, who are targeting 47 medals in Rio, hope the gold will kick-start a medal rush.
Peaty, who is 6ft 3in tall and weighs 13st 5lb, became the first British man to win an Olympic gold medal in the pool since Adrian Moorhouse won the same event in Seoul, South Korea, 28-years ago.
Moorhouse was at the poolside watching in admiration as his own golden time of 1.02.04 blitzed by more than four seconds.
This morning, Prime Minister Theresa May 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.'
One disappointment was that the stands appeared only about 60 per cent full with huge blocks of seats deserted despite there being loud support for local favourite Jose Gomes.
The Olympic crown completed a full set of medals for Peaty - he already has won two Commonwealth golds, eight European golds and three world golds plus three world records.
The 50m breaststroke and mixed medley relay, which accounted for two of his world titles last year in Kazan, Russia, are not Olympic events, so he is left to contest the 100m in Rio.
It was all smiles for Adam Peaty's girlfriend Anna Zair after his stunning gold medal-winning performance in Brzail
Anna and Peaty met through Derby Swimming Club, where she had once been a breast swimming specialist as well
Anna's proud tweets show just how well Peaty has done over the last year - breaking records and winning gold medals
Anna and his parents wore #teampeaty t-shirts and waved a British flag as they cheered him on in Rio
As well as being one of his most vocal supporters, Anna shares sweet snaps of Peaty on her social media accounts
Peaty, pictured as a schoolboy, now trains at Loughborough's swimming pool - meaning he can be close to student Anna
Home support: Family members, friends and swimming club members cheeredf Peaty on at a school sports club in Derby
Former Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington posted a picture of Peaty and Jazz Carlin
The only worry about Peaty going into the final was whether nerves had overcome him, but that was far from the case
HOW ADAM PEATY'S FAMILY ALMOST MISSED SWIMMER IN ACTION
Olympian Adam Peaty may have made his victory look effortless, but it wasn't so easy for his family to get poolside to cheer him on.
The 21-year-old champion's mother Caroline revealed how they nearly missed out on watching him in the heats – in which he achieved a new world record of 57.55 before smashing his own record in the final.
The family only just managed to get an emergency ticket for the heat on Saturday night.
'Thank you @ArenaPeople for our emergency ticket. What a race… Wish our view tonight was as good,' she tweeted, as she waited to watch her son in the final in the early hours of this morning.
Caroline was less impressed with the view she had watching her son win the final in Rio (pictured)
Caroline also posted a video on social media showing the 'miles long' queues that they had to struggle though to get into the Olympic park itself.
The footage shows Caroline, Peaty's father Mark and girlfriend Anna Zair waiting in the queue, which can be seen snaking off into the distance.
Tens of thousands of people have been forced to stand for hours in the burning Rio sun to get into venues, with some even reporting missing out on seeing their favourite athletes compete as the Games has gotten underway.
'Indeed we have problems in some [security checkpoints] in the Olympic Park and we apologise for everybody standing in line outside the venues,' said the Games spokesman Mario Andrada.
The Peaty family were stuck queuing to get into the Olympic Park with hundreds of other people
'We need to upgrade that part of the Games. We moved people from Rio 2016 [organisation] to speed up the [mag and bag] security checks and within the next hours we will be in much better shape.'
Thousands of empty seats have been reported at the gymnastics, boxing, handball, hockey and even the beach volleyball – one of Brazil's most popular sports.
Mr Andrada added: 'It was a problem of coordination. We need to explain to the public. We owe them an explanation and we owe them an excuse.
'We hope to clear the lines in the Olympic park. We feel sorry for the people who are there. Some time in line is acceptable but there needs to be a balance.'
The Rio win marks a remarkable transformation for Peaty in just four years and owes a lot to the London Olympics in 2012. His appearance here is one of the most positive legacies of that Games.
For he was preparing to go out and get drunk in a field with some friends when events in London were taking place.
Scrolling through his phone, he saw the results coming in from the Olympic pool and spotted the name of a friend, Craig Benson.
'That was the second it all changed,' said Peaty. 'I thought, 'I am going to do everything I can to get to Rio'.' From being 98 per cent committed, he went to 100.'
Apparently swimming conversations are banned at home in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, where he lives with his mother Caroline, a nursery manager, and his father Mark, a caretaker at a local supermarket.
It was Mrs Peaty who made many sacrifices to get him where he is, driving at 4.30am to get him to training in Derby. She would then go to work, and repeat the taxi exercise in the evening.
It had not been a promising start. Put in the bath as a toddler, he stood up and yelled. At the local swimming pool his mother was so heartbroken by his screams that she asked a friend to look after him instead. 'It was really hard going, I'd have given up many a time,' Mrs Peaty recently told the Radio Times.
'I'd get up at four in the morning, drive him 40 minutes to Derby, sit and wait two hours while he was training, or go to Tesco, then drive him back again and do a full day's work as a nursery manager. Then we'd do it again in the evening.
Peaty started the race excellently and once he asserted his authority in the race the result was never in doubt
The rest of the swimmers in the final could not get anywhere near the level set by the 21-year-old phenomenon
There was clear water between Peaty and his closest challengers as a true swimming and an Olympic great was born
Three-time world champion Peaty has joined a small group of British athletes to win Olympic titles
'He is clearly one of those people, a bit like Usain Bolt, who is that much better than everyone else,' said former swimming champion Mark Foster
'I've always hated driving. My husband doesn't drive, and I was so tired all the time. But Adam's willpower was stronger than mine and he'd say, 'Come on Mum, no staying in bed'.'
Mum, Dad and girlfriend Anna Zair were in Rio last night wearing 'Team Peaty…Adam' T-shirts and waving a Union Jack to watch his greatest triumph.
A banner proclaimed 'Go Peaty for GB.' Peaty had broken the world record for the 100m breaststroke in Rio on Saturday, blowing away his rivals with a stunning time of 57.55secs.
The times in Rio come as a result of an exhaustive training regime - he trains at the City of Derby swimming club, where he is coached by Melanie Marshall, a former Olympic swimmer.
But he also trains up to eight times per week at Repton School, a co-educational boarding independent school in the village of Repton, Derbyshire, and two sessions at Loughborough University.
Before last night's race, Peaty had spoken of his showdown with the South African, who took London by storm. 'I can't believe it, it's a dream,' he said, 'I've studied Cameron [van der Burgh] for a while– he was my idol, and now he's my rival. I knew I would go off quickly, but I caught him. It is a major stepping-stone for me, and for swimming in the country.'
The new 21-year-old champion was cheered to victory by his mum, dad and girlfriend poolside in Brazil and by family members, friends and swimming club members at a school sports club in Derby.
The 200-strong crowd roared with enthusiasm as they watched their hero race live on a giant TV screen. Then they clapped, laughed and some cried when he grabbed gold.
Six-time world champion Mark Foster was full of praise for Peaty and likened him to Jamaican superstar Usain Bolt
Foster said Peaty 'is clearly one of those people, a bit like Usain Bolt, who is that much better than everyone else'
Peaty set his mind fully on swimming because he was envious of his friend Craig Benson, who competed at London
As the 100 metre breast stroke star beamed 'I did it for my country because that means so much to me' his proud home fans responded 'Good lad!'
Eldest brother Rich Peaty, 28, grinned: 'It was absolutely epic, the performance of his life. I thought he would do it but you don't want to count your chickens. He's doing the medley on Friday and he can win a second gold. He's unstoppable.'
The Mail Online witnessed the remarkable scenes at Repton School, which houses the City of Derby Swimming Club where Adam trains up to eight times a week.
Young member Archie Heron, nine, begged his mother Henrietta to take him and younger sister Elodie, seven, to the special screening where eager supporters started gathering at 2am for the 2.53am competition. Henrietta from Derby said: 'Archie had been pestering me all day to come along. Adam is his biggest inspiration.'
Archie said: 'It was an incredible race. I knew he'd do it. I'm a good swimmer and maybe one day I'll be a champ!'
As many Brits across the country were in bed asleep the excited crowd squeezed into the sports centre's Blue Room, which was decked out with Union flags. Children, sporting Great Britain Team GB T-shirts, sat on the floor waving flags and showing off 'Adam going for gold' posters.
Adults either stood or at sat behind him. In the front row of chairs were four extra proud people – family members who all live in Adam's home town of Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. Rich, a quality assurance surveyor for a crisps company, was accompanied by middle brother James, 25, a builder, and sister Beth, 23, a care company support worker.
Before the race James, a keen swimmer, said: 'I don't want to jinx it but I've got no doubt my little brother will be getting gold! He's in a different league to all the others.' James and partner Charlotte Hoskins, 24, a nursery supervisor, have 19-month-old baby son Oliver, who idolises his superstar uncle.
The 200-strong crowd roared with enthusiasm as they watched their hero race live on a giant TV screen. Then they clapped, laughed and some cried when he grabbed gold
Children, sporting Great Britain Team GB T-shirts, sat on the floor waving flags and showing off 'Adam going for gold' posters.
As many Brits across the country were in bed asleep the excited crowd squeezed into the sports centre's Blue Room, which was decked out with Union flags
James, who left the baby at self-styled OlympicNan Mavis William's home, added: 'Watching Adam win was amazing, it's a huge package of adrenalin. We're all overwhelmed with emotion, words cannot describe how we feel. I can't stop shaking. To see my brother competing and winning gold in his first Olympics is beyond our dreams. I always had high hopes for him but never thought he'd get this far.'
Charlotte said: 'I'm speechless. He's done so well, he's worked so hard and thoroughly deserved it.'
While the champ's brothers did high fives when he clinched gold, an overwhelmed Beth burst into tears. She later said: 'When he was poolside my stomach was churning then he was in the water and in a flash he'd done it. My little brother has got two world records and Olympic gold. I cried, I stood up, sat down. I won't be able to sleep later, there's too much adrenalin and I've got to work later.'
Rich said his brother's achievement would inspire other British hopefuls in Rio to win medals, saying: 'It ignites the whole team now and they'll be thinking 'If he can do it so can we!' '
Adam's best pal Jack Stevenson, 21, shared his first swimming lesson with his friend when they were both seven and he was afraid of the water. Restaurant manager Jack said: 'I'm amazed and knew he could do it, he's worked and worked and just wanted it.'
His student cousin Brandon Alkins, 17, said: 'I knew he could smash it. He told me before he went to Rio 'I'm not letting anyone beat me!' '
Friends and family will be celebrating the victory later today with a street party and lots of champagne. Drinking alcohol was banned from the school gathering.
Sports Centre duty manager Tom Murphy said: 'It's a huge turn out. Rio's far away and we wanted to support Adam here and celebrate his success. It was a phenomenal performance. He is such a nice chap and he deserves it.'
Amazingly enough, Peaty had to overcome a fear of water when he was a child
Peaty became Team GB's first medal winner at the Rio 2016 Olympics and won gold in truly incredible fashion
It was double joy for Britain after a delighted Jazz Carlin took silver in the womens 400m freestyle
The superfit 6ft 3in tall, 13st 5lb swimmer has emulated Adrian Moorhouse, who won 100m breaststroke gold in 1988 – 28 summers and six Games ago in Seoul.
Adam, who is also the current Commonwealth and world champion, still lives at the family home. Beth said: 'We are a very close family and we care a lot about each other.'
Adam's parents Caroline and Mark and stunning student girlfriend Anna Zair, 19, were cheering from the poolside in Rio – was barber Alan Harvey who the swimmer praises for being inspirational and helping sort him out in times of self-doubt.
The snipper, nicknamed Al, has given him valuable words of encouragement over the years while giving him a quick trim. When the swimmer was once having 'a bit of a mental dip and doubting myself' Al helped pick him up.
Adam previously revealed: 'My barber sorted me out right there and then. He said: 'You've got nothing to worry about it. It's simple. You're world champion, aren't you?' '
Al ,who runs Al's Barbers in Uttoxeter, said before watching the race from the comfort of his home: 'He's a fantastic lad. He's like my boy and I feel very much part of it all. I would like to wish him luck and God bless.'
The barber proudly displays on his salon wall a world record certificate which Adam gave him as thank you gesture. He is hoping next to have a photo of his famous client with a gold medal around his neck.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3728963/Britain-s-new-golden-boy-Swimming-superstar-Adam-Peaty-21-wins-Team-GB-s-Olympic-medal-smashes-world-record-powers-victory-100m-breaststroke-Rio-Jazz-Carlin-gets-Silver-too.html#ixzz4GlOcuuuI
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