One proud Peacock
Jonnie Peacock triumphed over disability to become a gold medalwinning Paralympic athlete. He tells GABRIELLE FAGAN why competing in TV’s biggest dance competition was just as scary
ATHLETE Jonnie Peacock is best known as a double Paralympic, world and European T44 100m champion. He’s also the first person with a disability to take part in BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.
He lost his leg after contracting meningitis aged five but, at 19, became a household name after winning gold in the 100m sprint at the 2012 London Paralympics. In 2013 Jonnie was awarded an MBE for his services to athletics and won a further gold medal at Rio 2016.
After the 24-year-old from Cambridge was voted off Strictly at the weekend, he reveals more about the physical challenges of ballroom dancing... What was it like taking part in Strictly Come Dancing? “THE first time I stepped on the dance floor, it was really worrying, nerve-racking and stressful. I assumed I’d be falling all over the place, but I was actually better than I expected.
“I’d always shied away from dancing; my limit was a few bad moves after drinks on a night out.
“I realised that (Strictly) is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and that I’d get the chance to learn so much about dancing, as well as have fun. (The competition) is all about pushing myself out of the comfortable box of athletics, where I’m confident of my abilities. I was stepping into the unknown.
“It was also a brilliant opportunity to change perceptions of what people think a disabled or amputee person can do.” What was your worst Strictly nightmare? “I HAD a few dreams where I stepped on the floor, my mind went completely blank and I couldn’t remember the routine.
“It nearly happened with the quickstep, as I really struggled to remember the individual blocks of the routine from my training (the dances are broken down into sections to make it easier to learn). But thankfully, I pulled it off.
“My real boost came after I wore trousers to perform the waltz, and Anton (Du Beke) said he couldn’t tell which was my amputee leg. That was a really awesome comment to get, because he’s a professional with 15 years on the show.
“Wearing my running blade the following week was also great. I got such a positive response from people.” Did you get on well with your dance partner, Oti Mabuse? “WHEN we first started rehearsals, we had such a good laugh together and we immediately hit it off.
“We share the same sense of humour and have been laughing ever since. She’s a great person who pushes me hard, but really looks after me and creates clever choreography to help me to perform at my best. She’s given me so much confidence.” How do you look after your health and wellbeing? “ONE of the best things I learned from one of my coaches is to listen to my body – because it always gives warning signs, such as tiredness or niggly ailments.
“I have a cold shower every morning which raises testosterone levels, boosts immunity and really pushes the reset button.
“For breakfast I have a smoothie packed with six vegetables, juice or coconut water, a super food like acai berries and a vitamin-enriched Maca powder.
“At night I soak for an hour in a bath filled with Epsom salts because the magnesium in it acts as a muscle relaxant and helps me to sleep better. I aim for around eight to 10 hours of sleep per night.” You’re dating Northern Irish Paralympic sprinter, Sally Brown. Will you pop the question soon? “I’M NOT a person to jump into something when I’m not ready and I don’t want to put any pressure on us. I’m very happy though; I’ve known her for about seven years and we’ve dated for nearly four.
“I took a shine to her because she’s such a nice girl – very sweet but with a bit of fire hidden away in her too.
“She’s been incredibly supportive and understanding about Strictly. We were hardly spending any time together because I was so busy on the show.” How important has your family been in your success? “THEY’VE been at the heart of it. Both my mum and dad have been so supportive – they’ve never questioned my decisions or doubted that I could do things.
“I don’t really have any memories of losing my leg but my parents do. It was far worse for them really.
“I was always sports mad and they did everything they could to give me the same opportunities as everyone else.
“I was bullied at secondary school as I was different, but they were always there for me.” What’s your athletics training regime? “I DO four to six hours a day (around 40 hours a week) which culminates in about 10 seconds worth of work when I compete.
“It’s high-intensity training in the gym and on the track. Sprinting is all about quick bursts of speed.
“I describe my job as ‘the best in the world’ because I get to do something that I love.
“Most people lose weight on Strictly because of the intense training, but I’ve actually put on weight! Although we trained for eight hours a day, it wasn’t so fast-paced as my sports training – so I was actually struggling to stay in shape.”
Paralympic GB athletes Jonnie Peacock and Ellie Simmonds support Sainsbury’s Active Kids campaign.
To learn more about Active Kids, visit activekids.sainsburys.co.uk Strictly Come Dancing continues on BBC1 on Saturday at 6.50pm.