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Who is Olympian Tom Dean? Meet the gold medal-winning swimmer who is the ‘latest star to sign up to Strictly Come Dancing’

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As I delve into the world of celebrities and their upcoming adventures, I find myself quite captivated by this year’s Strictly Come Dancing lineup. The athletes, actors, and personalities hail from diverse backgrounds, each with their unique stories to tell.

At the Olympics, Tom Dean, a talented swimmer, shone brightly among his fellow swimmers when they clinched gold in the Men’s Freestyle Relay event on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old athlete is said to have registered for Strictly Come Dancing, with his sights set on the upcoming challenge.

In the upcoming 20th anniversary show, Tom, affectionately called ‘Deano’ by fans, plans to trade his swimming gear for sequins, following his victory in Paris.

Who exactly is Tom Dean, and are there any whispers about him potentially joining Strictly Come Dancing? Let’s take a closer look…

Strictly signing 

Bosses are said to be thrilled to have secured an Olympian who is a firm fan favourite.

At the relay, Tom’s family wore T-shirts with his nickname Deano emblazoned on the front. 

As a lifestyle expert, I can share an exciting insider scoop: Producers have managed to secure a gold medalist fresh off their triumph at the Paris Olympics! It’s no secret that competitive swimmers make captivating contestants, and this addition is sure to bring even more excitement to the show.

People are often admired due to their fitness, competitive spirit, and unwavering drive to succeed; and with his triumph in France, Tom is still buzzing with excitement.

He may not currently possess the same impressive swimmer’s resume as other elite athletes, but given his participation in Strictly, there is a strong possibility that this will significantly transform his profile.

Journey to Olympic medalist  

Growing up, Tom lived in Maidenhead, Berkshire alongside his four brothers and sisters. He went to a nearby school, where at the tender age of eight, he experienced swimming for the very first time.

At age 24, this athlete was poised for fame when he clinched the gold in the 200m Individual Medley at the 2017 European Junior Championships. The next year, he repeated his success by winning another gold medal in the same event, breaking a European Junior record during the competition.

He also won two bronze medals, in the 400m Individual Medley and the 4x200m Freestyle relay.

In 2022 he was awarded an MBE in the New Years Honours. 

At the same games, Tom became the first British male swimmer in 113 years to claim two gold Olympic medals, thanks to his impressive Olympics performance.

Tom, a mechanical engineer who resides and honed his skills in Bath (where he also earned his degree), has been backed by his family who unfortunately couldn’t watch from the sidelines during the Olympic Games in Tokyo because of Covid-19 safety measures.

But they were out in force in Paris, cheering him on from the side. 

I couldn’t help but beam from ear to ear as much as I ever have, as my dear mother, Jacquie Hughes, expressed her immense pride when she spoke to the BBC about me in Paris.

His sister Connie, who was similarly cheering from the sidelines, shared this insight: “People often overlook the effort put in behind the scenes. What we witness here is merely the highlight. Witnessing him achieve this after so many years of dedication… words can’t express it.”

Engaging in this challenging activity means rising early at 5 am, adhering to a specific bedtime each night, and maintaining a balanced diet.

Training regime  

Despite Tom possibly feeling uneasy on solid ground, his rigorous training regimen could potentially provide him with an edge against other athletes such as Pete Wicks and Nick Knowles from DIY SOS, who are also said to be participating.

The swimmer, who admires Michael Phelps greatly, adheres to a rigorous training schedule and shared in a GQ interview that he’s had to scale back his social activities to focus more on honing his swimming abilities.

Tom explained he has to ‘live like a robot, train consistently and not let anything distract you’. 

He mentioned that he takes care to evaluate each instance of hanging out with friends, ensuring it doesn’t disrupt his exercise routine.

The renowned swimmer casually mentioned that he’s at ease with strolling about in his swimming trunks (Speedos), and it’s likely that the BBC team is anticipating he’ll maintain the same level of comfort in some sequined attire.

After expressing his enjoyment of dancing with his teammates, it seems the 6 ft 4 in athlete would feel quite comfortable on the Strictly dance floor.

He mentioned that whenever we head out for the evening, we immediately dive into our unique dance routines and begin to elongate the moves. This tends to draw a fair amount of notice.

During the London watch party for the closing ceremony, we’ll get a glimpse of various dances taking place. People will showcase a variety of steps on the dance floor, much like they do in a swimming pool while performing the backstroke.

The medal-winning athlete is not the first swimmer to join the Strictly Come Dancing line-up.

In the swimming competitions, Mark Foster participated as early as 2008, while Adam Peaty didn’t join until 2021. Later on, in 2022, it was Ellie Simmonds who stepped into the pool.

I’ve got to admit, Strictly might not be buzzing about Tom quite yet compared to the household names on the roster. But let me tell you, that Olympic glory he’s got under his belt? It could easily challenge some of these big-time dancers in a heartbeat!

Rumoured line-up 

Additionally reported are other celebrities set to appear at the upcoming event, among them reality TV personality Pete Wicks. Notably, this announcement comes amidst news that his friend Zara McDermott was allegedly mistreated – both physically and verbally – by her dance partner, Graziano Di Prima, last year.

Additionally, it’s said that former Arsenal player Paul Merson and Nick Knowles from DIY SOS are also rumored to have taken up dancing.

Based on a Reddit post spotted by Metro, it’s been suggested that a list (which is claimed to be genuine) contains the names of all 15 contestants who are expected to compete.

According to reports, the post seems to be a screenshot from an Instagram Story, which was intended only for a few close friends, not for public viewing.

Notable figures such as Hannah Waddingham (known for Ted Lasso), Shobna Gulati (from Coronation Street), Janet Street-Porter (a presenter on Loose Women), Duncan James (of the band Blue), and Kia Pegg (star of Tracy Beaker Returns) were among those listed.

‘Apparently, the caption said: ‘Received it from a friend, looks thrilling! I can hardly wait, and that includes Hannah Waddingham!’

Chris McCausland was included in the list as well, following his failure to dismiss the Strictly speculations last month during a chat with Gyles Brandreth. Notably, Gyles Brandreth too appeared on that supposedly leaked list.

Additionally, the list included Olympic champion Dame Laura Kenny, popular actor Tyger Drew-Honey (known for Outnumbered), comedian Sarah Millican, and actress Pearl Mackie who starred in Doctor Who.

It’s said that the last names on the list included actor Sunil Patel, radio host Jordan North, retired soccer player Jermaine Jenas, and soap opera actress Shona McGarty.

Meanwhile Death In Paradise actor Ralf Little has also been rumoured to be joining the lineup.

Upon being questioned regarding the rumored roster, Strictly’s team at the BBC communicated to TopMob that the celebrities participating in this season will be unveiled eventually.

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2024-08-01 13:14

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