Multisport Athlete Montell Douglas Joins New Season of “Strictly Come Dancing”

The 20th anniversary of the popular TV show “Strictly Come Dancing” brings new changes and excitement as it introduces athletes such as Montell Douglas to its latest season. This landmark edition also signals a revamped workplace culture intended to support contestants with enhanced welfare measures and the introduction of chaperones to help manage relations during rehearsals.

Montell Douglas, known for her diverse sporting career, is one of the notable personalities joining the show. BBC viewers may recognize Douglas from her previous role as “Fire” on the 2024 reboot of “Gladiators.” Prior to her TV fame, the 38-year-old was a successful sprinter who represented Great Britain at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, advancing to the second round in the women’s 100 meters.

Her athletic achievements include holding the British women’s record for the fastest 100m sprint and winning a Commonwealth Gold in the 4x100m relay in 2010. In 2016, seeking new challenges, Douglas transitioned to bobsleigh. By January 2017, she had already achieved a top-ten finish in her debut at the Bobsleigh World Cup. She was the reserve athlete for Team GB during the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang and starred in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, finishing sixth alongside teammate Mica McNeill in their two-woman bobsleigh team.

Douglas holds the distinction of being the first female UK athlete to compete in both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. Raised in Lewisham, South London, Douglas pursued a degree in sports science while building her groundbreaking sporting career, making a substantial impact at the 2007 European Athletics Indoor Championships.

Her television debut came in 2011 on the show “Who Dares Wins,” and her subsequent role on “Gladiators” solidified her fan-favorite status with her strategic and physical prowess. On joining “Strictly Come Dancing,” Douglas expressed her enthusiasm, noting, “Strictly ARE YOU READY, Fire is here to light up the ballroom.” She added, “I am so honored to have been asked to do the show. It is such an amazing thing to be a part of and I can’t wait to get started. Hopefully a few of my Gladiator moves will come in handy with the Tango or Paso Doble!”