Sam Quek, a former Olympic hockey player turned Question of Sport star, is set to take on a new challenge as she joins the line-up for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing. The announcement of Quek’s participation in the popular BBC dancing competition was made on an episode of The One Show in August, where she expressed her relief at the news being out after having to keep it a secret.
Quek is no stranger to success, having won a gold medal with Team Great Britain at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Her journey in hockey saw her earning 125 international caps for the England and GB women’s hockey teams, with her first cap coming at the young age of 19 while she was studying sports and exercise science at Leeds Metropolitan University.
Despite her achievements, Quek faced challenges in her hockey career, including not being selected for multiple Olympic teams and sustaining injuries. She contemplated leaving the sport after breaking two ribs in 2014, but she persevered and went on to win gold at the Rio Olympics before retiring from hockey.
Following her Olympic success, Quek ventured into the world of television, appearing on shows like I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! where she finished fourth. She further explored broadcast opportunities, aiming to follow in the footsteps of renowned sports broadcasters like Gabby Logan and Clare Balding.
In 2021, Quek landed a role as a team captain on Question of Sport, a milestone she achieved in the same year she became a mother for the first time to daughter Molly. Just a year later, she welcomed her second child, Isaac, and returned to work shortly after undergoing an emergency C-section.
Ahead of her participation in Strictly Come Dancing, Quek shared that she had been taking dance lessons with her husband to stay active, inspired by former Strictly pro Ola Jordan whom she befriended during her time on I’m A Celeb. The athlete expressed her enthusiasm for the new challenge, mentioning that she hopes to make it all the way to the prestigious Blackpool stage of the competition.
Quek’s journey from the hockey field to the dance floor reflects her determination and versatility, and fans will be eagerly watching as she takes on this new chapter in her career on Strictly Come Dancing.