Strictly Come Dancing have signed up Olympic golden girl Claudia Fragapane...
Olympic gymnast Claudia Fragapane is aiming to vault her way to success in the ballroom for Strictly Come Dancing.
The Team GB competitor has been announced by the BBC as the eleventh contestant for the reality contest, which dances back onto our screens in September.
Claudia, 18, said: “I am a really big fan of Strictly Come Dancing and am so excited to be chosen to take part this year. I am used to performing in front of big crowds but this is going to be so different to my floor routines in gymnastics – but I love a challenge and performing! I also love dressing up and wearing sparkly costumes!”
She will arrive on the dancefloor fresh from competing in the Rio Olympic Games, where she earned her place in the UK squad by excelling at floor and vault routines.
The gymnast bagged four gold medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and in 2015 she won silver at the European Championships and bronze in a team event at the World Championships, making her formidable competition for those already signed up to don their dancing shoes.
The final four celebrity contestants for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing will be announced on Monday, August 22, with one joining Scott Mills on his BBC Radio 1 show from 1pm and the final three appearing alongside presenters Alex Jones and Patrick Kielty on The One Show at 7pm on BBC One.
Claudia joins Ed Balls, Will Young, Laura Whitmore, Ore Oduba, Melvin Odoom, Louise Redknapp, Danny Mac, Daisy Lowe, Naga Munchetty and Anastacia who have already been announced as contestants for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Fellow Team GB gymnast Louis Smith won Strictly Come Dancing after the 2012 London Olympics.
Time will tell if Claudia will follow in his footsteps but we've a feeling she'll be a firm favourite to win with bookies!
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