Strictly Injury Haunts Paralympian

Paralympian Will Bayley has revealed he'll endure chronic knee pain for life after a grueling injury sustained during his 2019 stint on Strictly Come Dancing. The table tennis champion, 36, suffered the injury while practicing a jump during rehearsals, the second attempt after his professional partner, Janette Manrara, 40, deemed his initial attempt "rubbish."

Bayley, who was born with arthrogryposis, a condition limiting joint movement, completed the jump with straight knees, resulting in a painful crash. Describing the incident to The Sun, he recalled the "horrific pain" and the fear that his entire career was over.

"We practiced a few times and I was really careful," he explained. "But then Janette said my jump was ‘rubbish’ and I needed to smile more and go for it and show a bit of passion." Determined to impress, Bayley went for the jump, only to experience agonizing pain. "I was lying on the floor thinking my whole career was over. I heard my leg crack, I couldn’t breathe," he recounted.

The injury, a torn anterior cruciate ligament, has left him with persistent pain, impacting his daily life and training regime. "I’ll never get over that injury — you have it for life. I’ve already got a limiting disability but this on top of it. I wake up in the morning and it hurts. I can now only train for a couple hours before it’s sore," Bayley shared.

While acknowledging the pressure Janette was under from show bosses, Bayley maintained that there were no issues between them and that they remain friends.

A BBC spokesperson stated that they would not comment on individual cases but have procedures in place to address such concerns.

Despite the injury, Bayley expressed gratitude for Manrara's support during his time on the show, describing her as "like a rock" and praising her unwavering commitment.

Bayley's injury forced him to withdraw from Strictly after a week, but he returned to compete at the 2020 Tokyo Games, where he secured both individual and team silver medals.

While acknowledging the pain that will accompany him forever, Bayley remains determined to pursue his athletic goals, aiming to win gold at the next Paralympics. "It’s getting there, I want to see what it’s like in a couple of weeks but I’ll be there in Tokyo, I want to try and win that gold medal again," he declared.

Bayley's story serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices athletes make in pursuit of their dreams, and the lasting impact injuries can have on their lives.