EXCLUSIVE: Paralympic star EllieSimmonds1 says ‘dwarfism has made her stronger’ as she opens up about her competitive nature and how she has body hang ups like everyone else
Ellie Simmonds is posing on set in a pink dress and purple feather boa with the confidence of a supermodel. An icon of disabled sport, the retired Paralympic swimmer is Strictly Come Dancing’s newest recruit and is relishing her new platform – and her glow up.
Ellie has achondroplasia, a rare genetic condition which causes a type of dwarfism. She became the youngest recipient of an MBE, elevated to an OBE in 2013, before retiring as a five-time Paralympic champion after the Tokyo 2020 Games with 10 world records. But from those dizzying heights came a sobering loss of identity as Walsall-born Ellie tried to figure out what her future would hold.
She was “buzzing” when she got the call from her agent and confided first in her boyfriend Matt, who also has dwarfism. The couple have been together for two years and have just bought a house, with Ellie crediting him as her biggest support along with parents Steve and Val and her sister Katie. "It was definitely something I thought about a lot before saying yes. Strictly have been amazing and have been helping me so much, walking me around the studio just to make sure I can reach everything and see if I need extra steps.”
She’s been getting advice about Strictly from Paralympic tennis player Will Bayley, who was in the 2019 series.
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