Dame Sarah Storey has been announced as the seventh celebrity on Strictly Come Dancing 2026.
The cyclist and swimmer, 48, has 19 Paralympic gold medals to her name, making her the most successful British Paralympian of all time.
Dame Sarah started her career as a swimmer and competed at four Paralympic Games before switching to cycling, winning a total of 30 Paralympic medals across nine Games, including four golds at London 2012.
Dame Sarah recently announced her retirement from sport and has decided the Strictly dancefloor will be her next challenge.
She said: “Embarking on a new challenge so soon after stepping down as an athlete is hugely exciting.
“I have always loved watching Strictly and my daughter Louisa is a very talented dancer, so to be able to learn from the best and hopefully understand even more about her world, is incredibly motivating. I can’t wait to get started.”
The athlete was born without a functioning left hand after her arm became entangled in the umbilical cord in the womb, meaning her hand did not develop as normal.
She joined her local swimming club in Manchester at the age of 10 and began her Paralympic career in the pool at 14.
She married tandem pilot and coach Barney Storey in 2007 and had their daughter in June 2013.
Dame Sarah joins Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton, Cach Mercer and Will Best in the line-up for the new series of Strictly.
Broadcaster Emma Willis, professional dancer Johannes Radebe and comedian Josh Widdicombe are the new hosts of the BBC show.
They will replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who announced they were leaving the show late last year.
Further celebrities joining the line-up will be announced throughout the summer ahead of the new series airing on BBC One and iPlayer this September.
