I train as Sam but dance as Samantha (she's a bit more 'Ooh!)

Alter ego helps her beat nerves

- MARK JEFFERIES

She's sparkling on the Strictly dance floor but Sam Quek has spent most of her life sweating in sportswear.

So it is no surprise that swapping trainers for high heels came as a bit of a culture shock to the Olympic gold medal-winning hockey star.

But after six weeks, Sam is finding her feet on the show - with a little bit of help from her alter ego.

The 36-year-old says: "You have to become a character because people are watching and it's an entertainment show, and you want to entertain and you want to do the dance justice.

"If I dance as Sam, it's just a bit like we're girls on a night out, but now we have 'Samantha' [with a Latin twang].

"Samantha, who's a little bit more like, 'Ooh. And also, I think I've never really celebrated my body as a woman before, I don't think.

"I've never really looked at myself and gone, 'Oh, there's my curves' and touched around my hips and my waist.

"So it's actually been quite a little bit of a revelation. I think women don't celebrate their bodies enough."

Sam adds: "Strictly is definitely empowering because I've always been a bit embarrassed. 'Don't be too sexy' - that's just always been in me, really.

"But I think being in this environment, you know, every body shape, personality, styles are celebrated.

"So it's the perfect environment to really come out and give that sass, because people around you are like, "Yes, Sam, go on.

Last week, Sam's dance with pro partner Nikita Kuzmin did not go completely according to plan, with the judges noting she was a "little off in the quickstep routine.