Paralympic medallist Stef Reid MBE has announced she will be taking part in the new series of ITV’s Dancing On Ice, which will start in January 2022. The 36-year-old long jumper, who has a prosthetic leg, is the second disabled contestant to take part in the ice-skating competition following blind sprinter Libby Clegg in 2020.
Who is Stef Reid?
Stef Reid is a World, European and Paralympic medallist in the T44/64 long jump. At aged 15, she was involved in a boating accident that resulted in her right foot being amputated.
At university, she was introduced to Para-athletics and soon after competed in the 200m sprint at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, where she won silver.
By London 2012, Stef had switched to the long jump, where she also won a silver medal.
She added another Paralympic silver medal to her collection at Rio 2016 where she finished second in the T44 long jump once again.
Stef recently competed at the postponed Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games but missed out on a medal this time, only reaching fourth place. However, she spent the rest of the games as an athletics pundit for Channel 4.
As well as being a successful athlete, Stef also has an honours degree in Biochemistry, is a fashion model and keen public speaker, making her a multi-talented individual.
Read our interview with Stef Reid that we published ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Stef Reid on Dancing On Ice
In an exclusive message on Good Morning Britain, Stef said:
“I have some really exciting news. I’m going to be picking up a new sport this winter and it comes with a little bit of showbiz. I’m going to be a contestant on Dancing on Ice and it’s a little bit scary, but I cannot wait!”
Team GB Paralympian Stef will be competing against a mix of other celebrities, including Coronation Street’s Sally Dynevor and Bez from the Happy Mondays.
Stef is the second Paralympian and disabled contestant to take part in the ice-skating competition following blind sprinter Libby Clegg, who competed on Dancing On Ice in 2020, where she made it all the way to the final.
This was Stef Reid’s reaction on Twitter following the announcement:
This winter I’m swapping my running blade 🏃♀️for a skating blade ⛸️!!! #DancingOnIce @dancingonice pic.twitter.com/n1R0rxUjt3
— Stef Reid MBE (@RunJumpStefReid) October 5, 2021
Other contestants confirmed include Love Island star Liberty Poole, former rugby player Ben Foden and Regan Gascoigne, son of footballer Paul Gascoigne, S Club 7’s Rachel Stevens, Strictly dancer Brendan Cole, BMX racer Kye White and TV presenter Ria Hebden.
Dancing On Ice returns to ITV in the new year with twelve celebrities taking on the challenge. Each week they will skate live with their professional partners in a bid to impress both the panel and the viewers who will ultimately decide who wins the show.
By Emma Purcell
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