Dancing On Ice kicks off tonight. One person who is hoping to impress is sporting star Stef, who is already one of the favourites to make it all the way to the final.
Stef is a Paralympic long jumper who competes as part of Team GB, and is a five-time world record holder, reigning world champion (London 2017 long jump), and triple Paralympic medallist in the long jump and 200m sprint.
The athlete lost her right foot in a boating accident when she was 16-years-old,
She underwent a lifesaving operation in Toronto which saw her right leg amputated below the knee, meaning she now wears a prosthetic.
Stef was a keen sportswoman before her accident and played rugby union, but encountered difficulties after her amputation with referees who felt the artificial leg could injure other players
She got into her campus track and field team whilst attending Queen’s University in Canada, and competed in her first World Championships three years later.
Her first Paralympic Games was held in Beijing in 2008, where she initially competed for Canada, winning a bronze medal in the women’s 200 metres – T44 event, before switching her allegiance to Team GB at the start of 2010.
Stef was made an MBE in the 2018 New Year Honours for services to Paralympic sport.
Fans may also recognise her from elsewhere on-screen as she competed in the 2018 series of Celebrity MasterChef, where she made it to the semi-finals.
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