Team GB Olympic hero Nicola Adams has reportedly ended her seven-year relationship with OnlyFans model Ella Baig. Adams cemented her name into Olympic history when she became the first female boxing champion after winning gold at her home Games at London 2012. She repeated the feat in Rio four years later, becoming the first double Olympic champion in the sport.
The ex-Olympic champion began dating OnlyFans model Baig in 2018 after they met on a night out. The couple have a two-year-old son, Taylor Nate, who was born via IVF using one of Nicola’s eggs. A spokesperson told The Sun: ‘Nicola and Ella have shared an incredible journey together, full of love, growth, and resilience. After much thoughtful reflection and important therapy work, they have made the difficult decision to separate. Their priority remains their son, Taylor, and they are committed to co-parenting with love and respect.’
Adams turned professional in 2017 and after being signed by Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren, won the vacant WBO interim flyweight title a year later. But she was forced into an early retirement due to a serious eye injury, only fighting six times as a pro.
Away from boxing, Adams made TV history in 2020 as part of the first same-sex pair on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. The ex-boxing star was paired with Katya Jones but they had to withdraw from the competition after Jones tested positive for Covid. In 2022, Haig – a successful OnlyFans model – opened up on the ‘difficult’ IVF journey she experienced alongside her partner Adams. ‘Well it’s been a few years, so we went through three IVF cycles,’ she said on Loose Women. ‘We had one failed attempt, one miscarriage and then a baby.’
To conceive they used Nicola’s eggs, which she decided to freeze in her early 30s, and a sperm donor. ‘I was recommended to [freeze my eggs],’ she said. ‘I didn’t realise how much or how IVF is seen outside of the sports perspective. I support every woman in every business and career. I just thought that a lot of people just did that so they can concentrate on their work.’
Despite a short-lived professional boxing career, Adams is regarded as a pioneer of women’s boxing following her Olympic exploits. Explaining her decision to retire, she said back in 2019: ‘I’m immensely honoured to have represented our country – to win double Olympic gold medals and then the WBO championship belt is a dream come true. But it’s not without taking its toll on my body, and aside from the expected aches and pains – I’ve been advised that any further impact to my eye would most likely lead to irreparable damage and permanent vision loss. Boxing has always been such an important part of my life – and it always will – but after training every day for over 20 years, my body is quite looking forward to a rest!’
In an interview with Glamour magazine, Adams spoke candidly about motherhood, saying: “Yeah. My biggest challenge welcoming Taylor into the world was not really knowing what to do. You're told all this different information at the hospital, how to change a nappy, how to do all this stuff, how to check for things, and then you're just like, 'Right.' They just let you go. And there was a part of me that was like, 'Oh my God. I'm responsible now for this human and I have to bring them up,' and that, for me, was the most terrifying moment of my life.”
Adams also expressed how motherhood has transformed her, stating: “Motherhood has taught me that I have way more patience than I ever thought I would have. And I guess, for me, it's just seeing those little moments. Seeing Taylor smile, seeing him do something new that he hasn't done before, it's just taught me, I guess, that there's so much more to look at in life.”
As the couple moves forward, the focus remains on their son Taylor, as they navigate their new paths separately yet committed to co-parenting. The split has been a significant change for both Adams and Baig, who shared a life filled with love and challenges, especially through their journey of parenthood.
Adams' remarkable achievements in sports, especially breaking barriers for women in boxing, continue to resonate. Her legacy as a pioneering athlete and now as a mother showcases her strength both inside and outside the ring. The couple's split, while difficult, marks a new chapter for both individuals as they prioritize their son's well-being above all else.
