Olympic gold medalist Tom Dean is set to swap his swimming cap for dancing shoes as he joins the lineup for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing. The 24-year-old swimmer, known for his success at the Paris Games where he clinched gold in the men’s freestyle relay, will be taking on a new challenge on the hit BBC show.
Dean’s journey to sporting stardom began in Maidenhead, Berkshire, where he grew up alongside his four siblings. Balancing his studies in mechanical engineering at the University of Bath with rigorous swim training, Dean’s dedication paid off at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. There, he made history by becoming the first British man in over a century to win a gold medal in the men’s 200m swim freestyle.
Adding to his accolades, Dean went on to achieve further success at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, solidifying his position as England’s most decorated athlete with a total of seven medals. This summer, Dean triumphed once again by securing his third gold medal for Team GB in the team 4 x 200m freestyle relay at the Paris 2024 Olympics, with his family proudly cheering him on from the stands.
Despite his sporting achievements, Dean is no stranger to the dance floor. Revealing his participation in Strictly Come Dancing during a BBC Radio 1 announcement, Dean expressed his excitement to embark on this new adventure and meet new people through dancing. His decision to join the show was influenced by fellow Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty’s stint on Strictly in 2021.
Speaking about his approach to dancing, Dean shared with GQ how his swimming background translates to his moves on the dance floor, joking that he and his Team GB friends often break into strokes and stretches during nights out. While his mother, Jacquie Hughes, acknowledged that swimming was his natural talent, she revealed that Dean’s fun and enthusiastic attitude extends to choreographing entertaining Christmas dances with his brothers.
As the youngest contestant in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing lineup, Tom Dean’s transition from swimming sensation to dance floor dynamo will undoubtedly captivate audiences and showcase his versatile talents beyond the pool.