Ellie Simmonds

The most common and recognisable form of dwarfism in humans is the genetic disorder achondroplasia, which comprises 70 per cent of cases.

Most are also able to have children. “I’m not a fan of that.” “Is it changing being a dwarf?” she asks.

Paralympian swimmer Ellie Simmonds OBE will front a new BBC documentary exploring a drug that claims to make children with dwarfism grow closer to average ...

“But I wouldn’t change myself. Simmonds is also a patron of the Dwarf Sports Association UK, a sporting charity which aims to make sporting opportunities accessible to everyone of restricted growth in the UK. When she was 13-years-old, she became the youngest British swimmer to have ever competed at the Paralympics, and is also the youngest person to have ever received an OBE, which was given to her when she was aged 14. There are 2 main types of restricted growth; proportionate short stature, which is a general lack of growth in the body, arms and legs, and disproportionate short stature, where the arms and legs are particularly short. So, what is dwarfism, what is vosoritide, and how can you watch the Ellie Simmonds documentary. The show is presented by Paralympian swimmer Ellie Simmonds OBE, who was diagnosed with achondroplasia - the most common form of dwarfism - as a baby.

The Paralympian investigates new drugs intended to treat achondroplasia, which some view as the future – and others see as an 'existential threat'

Simmonds starts from a pretty much wholly anti-drug perspective but, as she gathers accounts from parents of children on the drug, the children themselves and people who have undergone other procedures, she is open and honest about how fortunate she has been in her upbringing and how much this has coloured her thinking. Or is it, as put by an activist in the US – where the drug is already approved – an existential threat to dwarfism (and by extension, all other forms of difference)? Is it giving in to prejudice, or empowering individuals to live their best lives in an enduringly imperfect world? On the other hand, we – as a group, and my boyfriend and his son as individuals – were, for the bulk of the time, met with great kindness, generosity and practical help from the non-staring demographic.

We know much about Ellie Simmonds' career as a Paralympian swimmer, but what about her life away from the pool? Find out if she has a partner.

“I’ve always been aware of being shorter, but I felt as if I could do anything,” Simmonds told The Guardian. “I don’t remember my mum and dad telling me anything, and they certainly didn’t make any special allowances for Katie and me. As the youngest of five, Simmonds is very close to her family. Since retiring from sport in 2021, Simmonds continues to make waves outside the Paralympic sphere.

As she makes her TV presenting debut to explore a controversial new drug that claims it can bring an end to dwarfism, find out everything you need to know ...

Ellie has achondroplasia which is a form of short-limbed dwarfism. Since then, as well as fronting the documentary, Ellie has also continued her involvement in various charities, including WaterAid and Dwarf Sports Association UK. In 2014, she was upgraded to an OBE.