We’re just a few weeks into this year’s Strictly Come Dancing and already former Paralympian swimmer Ellie Simmonds has thrilled fans and impressed the judges with her performances alongside pro partner Nikita Kuzmin.
At 27, Ellie already has an impressive list of achievements to her name. She was the youngest British athlete at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing, where she won two gold medals at the age of just 13, and a year later she was the youngest ever person to be awarded an MBE.
She happily signed up to Strictly with the support of her partner, Matt Dean, and has been loving her time on the show with Ukrainian dancer Nikita, 24, even if the gruelling schedule means she’s feeling some strain.
“I’m feeling it today and yesterday was tough,” she says. “My knees and my legs – I’m feeling muscles that I’ve never, ever felt before.”
We caught up with Ellie and Nikita to find out how Strictly compares to competing in the Olympics and how it feels to be breaking boundaries...
Hi Ellie! How are you finding the Strictly experience?
Ellie: I’m loving it! I’m loving every single minute of every single day. It feels like it’s only just started, yet we’ve been in it for some weeks now.
How do you adapt your dances to accommodate the height difference between you?
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 31, 2022-Ausgabe von New UK.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 31, 2022-Ausgabe von New UK.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
A STICKY SITUATION
Actors Chris Diamantopoulos and Guillaume Cyr bond with Margo Martindale and get beaten up by Jamie Lee Curtis in a riotous new comedy drama series
THIS IS CHRISTMAS ACTUALLY
Love Actually writer and director Richard Curtis gifts the world a new festive film this year
LEARN HOW TO PLEASE YOURSELF
The festive season can be an incredibly stressful time, particularly for peoplepleasers who struggle to put their own needs first
Caught on dashcam injecting her ex with fatal dose of 'poison"
Amanda Hovanec enlisted her lover and her mother in her cold-blooded plot
'I looked better getting married at 53 than I did at 23!'
Wellbeing coach Sarah-Jane Clark, from Swindon, shares how she achieved her dream of wearing a size 10 wedding dress after losing 12st
'I am so looking forward to Christmas'
Helen Flanagan shares her plans for the holidays with her new boyfriend Robbie Talbot and her kids
I'm turning the anger into positive energy
His best friend's death has made Gok Wan rethink life
‘I'm careful with who I allow in my inner circle
Actress and presenter Kéllé Bryan on managing fame and fronting a new fashion initiative
'There were rats..it is a real jungle
Marvin Humes on his I'm A Celebrity experience, backing his buddies and the importance of kindness
'It's not going to be sexy Maura on I'm A Celeb'
Model Caprice Bourret tells new about her festive traditions and starring in and producing a Christmas film