Strictly star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey has confessed he was “overwhelmed with emotion” as he stepped onto the dance floor following a knee injury.
The sportsman was forced to withdraw from Gladiators after damaging his knee earlier this year, but is now taking part in the BBC ballroom programme with professional partner Karen Hauer. He became tearful as he performed at the weekend, and has now revealed that it “meant so much” after being forced to sit out due to his injury, reports Wales Online.
Speaking candidly on The One Show on Tuesday (September 30), the Strictly Come Dancing participant said: “Yeah, it hit me.
“I got overwhelmed with emotion, because not a lot of people know the extent of the injury that I had prior, which saw me out of series two of Gladiators, but, you know, quite often we question ourselves, we go through, you know, quite low, a few lows.
View 3 Images Harry was emotional on Strictly(Image: BBC)
“And for me, I am a big ball of energy, and when you’re not… when you don’t know if you’re going to be what you once were, just in terms of your personality, being on that dance floor and being able to show my true self and be that person again, it just meant so much.”
Harry and Karen earned 19 points for their Week One Cha Cha Cha to Salt and Pepa’s Push It, and they are currently rehearsing for this weekend’s performance.
View 3 Images Harry is paired with Karen Hauer on Strictly
The celebrity – known as Nitro on Gladiators – revealed that he is also receiving guidance from his young daughter Aubreé-Isla.
“My secret trainer is my daughter,” he said. “Literally, I’ve got so much love and joy and passion for her.
“The thing is, as an athlete, Olympic athlete, you do think selfishly for yourself.
View 3 Images Harry appeared on The One Show
“But as I’ve, you know, had a daughter and gone through this process, me and my family, like, every show I’ve done has a positive effect on her. So when I did MasterChef, now she won’t stop cooking.
“Same with Strictly, whenever I’m preparing for something, this whole week, all she’s been saying is, ‘Push it real good’.”