Ellie Simmonds was initially hesitant about joining 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
Ellie Simmonds was hesitant about joining the show
The 27-year-old former Paralympian - who has achondroplasia, a type of dwarfism that results in short limbs and a normal-sized torso - has confessed to having doubts about appearing on the BBC show.
She shared: "When I got the call I did wonder whether I should do it. Then I thought I’d do a leap of faith. You don’t know until you try."
Ellie was eventually convinced to commit to the show by her boyfriend Matt.
Recalling their conversations, she explained: "He was like, ‘Go for it, you don’t know unless you try’. Now I’m so happy I said yes."
Ellie performed her first dance with partner Nikita Kuzmin over the weekend, and their routine marked the first time she's ever worn heels in her life.
She told The Sun newspaper: "I was so nervous. It was so tough but I want to do it again."
Ellie even took to wearing her heels at home prior to the taking to the dancefloor.
The sports star said: "I was wearing them in while brushing my teeth. I never normally do that."
Ellie also recalled having one particular frustration during her younger years.
The former Paralympian - who competed at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, aged 13 - said: "As a teenager, I always wanted bigger feet. I am a size two to three, and there’s not much choice for shoes this small.
"They were made for kids, with butterflies or fairy lights. I wanted shoes that looked suitable for adults.
"It never got me upset though. I never cried, it was just part of growing up."
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