Jody Cundy
| Fact title | Fact data |
|---|---|
| Age |
44
|
| Profession |
Cyclist, Paralympian & Former swimmer
|
| Pro |
Meet Jody Cundy
Sequins, glitter, spray tans? Jody is about to be Strictly-fied
Does this world record breaker have it in him to make Strictly gold as he takes to the Ballroom? We'll soon find out...
Jody was born in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire in 1978, and grew up in Norfolk. When he was three years old, his right foot was amputated due to a deformity at birth, so he began to wear a prosthetic. By the age of five he had his first swimming lesson with his school, where he struggled to swim, and as a result of this his parents enrolled him in a local swimming club.
Discovering the Paralympics at age of 10, he immediately knew that wanted to represent Team GB as a swimmer and he raced for the first time in the colours of Kings Lynn swimming club. In 1994, Jody made his international debut, representing Great Britain at the first IPC World Swimming Championships in Malta. Surprising everyone, he beat his personal best time by 4 seconds and won the gold medal in the 100m Butterfly, as well as the bronze medal in the 100m Backstroke.
Following his time at the championships, he later represented Team GB at the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Paralympic Games, where he scooped three gold and two bronze medals. With his swimming career spanning 11 years, Jody has gone on to winning a total of 23 international medals: 14 Gold, 4 Silver and 5 Bronze.
In 2005 his career path took a turn when he took part in a disability open at the Newport Velodrome. His cycling times from training caught the attention of the GB coaches, and he was invited to a time trial for a place on the 2006 Paralympic World Cup team. The trial was a success, and two days later he rode in the team sprint at the Paralympic World Cup, where the team went on to set a new WR time.
Hanging up his trunks and goggles for the final time, Jody went onto win his first cycling Paralympic Gold medals at the 2008 Beijing games, winning in both the 1km Time Trial and Team Sprint. Across his cycling career, he’s competed in 14 World Championships and 4 Paralympic Games.
Alongside Strictly, Jody will be training for his eighth Summer Paralympic Games in Paris 2024. And we can’t wait to see if his competitive edge will see him secure top spot…
