Ellie Simmonds

The Paralympic swimming champion and broadcaster will join the BBC dance competition for its 2022 series.

“To be asked to be part of the Strictly family is just so exciting and I cannot wait, it’s going to so much fun. Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One in 2022. At age 14, she became the youngest person ever to receive an MBE (later elevated to an OBE), and after retiring from competitive swimming has presented for BBC Sport and fronted documentaries about disability.

Paralympic champion and broadcaster Ellie Simmonds said she was "bursting with excitement" at joining the star-studded line-up.

Plus wearing the sequins and all that, it's going to be a blast. At the age of just thirteen she was the youngest British athlete at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, and won gold medals in the 100m and 400m freestyle events. She added: "To be asked to be part of the Strictly family is just so exciting and I cannot wait, it's going to be so much fun.

The paralympic swimmer, 27, who has a type of dwarfism called achondroplasia and is a height of 4ft, is the first with the genetic condition to appear on ...

This is also my Mum's favourite show and she's had a really tough few years so I'm doing this is for her as well. I cannot wait to get in those sparkles and sequins and shimmy across the most famous dance floor in the world! Strictly is the ultimate feel good show, as soon as I hear that iconic theme tune it's just pure escapism. I've always watched it, apart from a brief hiatus in 2011 as I was relentlessly gigging every weekend (to try and get on Strictly). 'I've been a massive fan of the show for years. I think mentally it will be good for me as well.' I could think of a million reasons not to do this'. 'Plus wearing the sequins and all that, It's going to be a blast. I'm counting down the minutes until it starts; learning to dance, meeting my partner and everyone else involved in the show. Success: Ellie is best known as a gold medal-winning Paralympic swimmer. Ellie is best known as a gold medal-winning Paralympic swimmer. I'm going on Strictly Come Dancing!! I'm a tad nervous too, well more than a tad…

The 27-year-old, from Walsall, is the sixth contestant announced for this year's show.

Other celeb contestants are set to be announced in the coming days. Ellie has also gone on to win ten gold World Championship titles as well as winning BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year when she was just 13. "Plus wearing the sequins and all that, it's going to be a blast.

Ellie Simmonds will compete in this year's Strictly Come Dancing, saying she's delighted to be the first contestant with dwarfism.

Strictly Come Dancing, the BBC’s flagship primetime show that has sold versions around the world under the banner Dancing with the Stars, made history last year with the first ever same-sex pairing in the show, and also featuring its first deaf contestant, Rose Ayling-Ellis, who went on to win the competition. The competition will be returning for its 20th year in September, and Simmonds told the BBC she was embracing the “once in a lifetime” opportunity: “I’m so excited, I just want to enjoy every second and try out the sequins and costumes. Paralympic swimming champion Ellie Simmonds has been announced as a contestant for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, saying she’s delighted to be the first contestant with dwarfism to take part in the show.

ELLIE SIMMONDS is the sixth celebrity to have been announced as taking part in this year's Strictly Come Dancing. The gold medal-winning Paralympic swimmer ...

"Enjoy this gift you have been given and it will be lovely to swap chlorine with sequins." @see75 added: "You have been positively glowing this week whilst on the commonwealth games sofa and now we know why!! #ellietowinstrictly." @sarah_hancock40 remarked: "Omg this news has made my day! She was announced on Sunday morning as the latest confirmed name to be joining the dancefloor on BBC favourite Strictly Come Dancing, which will launch next month for series 20. At the age of 13, she was the youngest British athlete at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, and won gold medals in the 100m and 400m freestyle events.

Paralympic swimming gold medallist Ellie Simmonds is the latest celebrity revealed as part of the Strictly Come Dancing 2022 line-up.

Plus wearing the sequins and all that, it’s going to be a blast. “I’m a tad nervous too, well more than a tad… I’m going on Strictly Come Dancing!

She will be joined by Kaye Adams, Radio 2 star Richie Anderson, former Coronation Street actress Kym Marsh and actor Will Mellor.

Plus wearing the sequins and all that, it's going to be a blast. She retired from swimming in 2020. She added: "To be asked to be part of the Strictly family is just so exciting and I cannot wait, it's going to be so much fun.

Five-time Paralympic gold medal winning swimmer Ellie Simmonds will appear on one of Britain's most-watched television shows next season.

Other swimmers have competed on other international versions of the show. The only other swimmer have appeared on the show, besides Peaty and Simmonds, include Olympic swimmer Mark Foster (11th place, season 6). Each week, the pairs learn a dance in a new style and perform for a set of judges and the voting public.

PARALYMPIC swimming legend Ellie Simmonds is 'bursting with excitement' to be entering Strictly Come Dancing - although she admits she is 'petrified'.

“To be asked to be part of the Strictly family is just so exciting and I cannot wait, it’s going to be so much fun. I’m absolutely petrified! Ellie said: “I will be so, so nervous, and I will try not to think of all the people watching.“ I know all my family and friends will support me and help me stay grounded.

Ellie Simmonds is heading for the Strictly ballroom this year. The retired Paralympic swimmer is 'bursting with excitement' to be joining the hit BBC ...

I've had a wonderful competition and I've loved every minute of it.” The retired athlete was ecstatic to confirm the news as she said: “Oh my gosh!! It’s been soooo hard keeping this secret as I’ve wanted to tell everyone.

Paralympic swimming gold medallist Ellie Simmonds is the latest celebrity revealed as part of the Strictly Come Dancing 2022 line-up. | ITV News Central.

Plus wearing the sequins and all that, it’s going to be a blast." I’m literally bursting with excitement!" I’m absolutely petrified!

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Plus wearing the sequins and all that, It’s going to be a blast. “To be asked to be part of the Strictly family is just so exciting and I cannot wait, it’s going to be so much fun. I’m absolutely petrified! - Seven gold and two silver medals at the European Championships - Five gold, one silver and two bronze medals at the Paralympic Games Simmonds is a retired British Paralympian swimmer who became a household name back in the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing when she won two gold medals for Team GB. At the time, she was the youngest member of the team at just 13.

Simmonds retired from swimming in 2021 and has since gone on to become a broadcaster for BBC Sport. However, the British star has now confirmed the news that ...

I’m absolutely petrified! I’m a tad nervous too, well more than a tad… I’m absolutely petrified!