Ellie Simmonds, a Strictly Come Dancing star, and they both share the same dwarfism. Last weekend’s Strictly viewing by the Davidson family was a turning point.
Hailey and her daughter Skye witnessed a character that resembled them on a prime-time program for the first time.
For Hailey, it was more than just witnessing someone who had previously motivated them to take an interest in sports; it was about representation.
Haley, 43, stated:
“It makes a significant impact because we don’t often get to see ourselves, especially on a show of this magnitude.
“People can be seen at the Paralympics, but here, it’s seven o’clock on a Saturday night, and Ellie is standing in for us.
The Paralympic gold medalist swimmer Ellie Simmonds is best known for. She won two gold medals at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing as the youngest British athlete, at the age of 13.
Ellie won her fifth gold in Rio in 2016, adding to her 2012 two gold medals from the London Olympics. Additionally, 14 World Championship championships belong to the former BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year.
Hailey, her son Finlay, 17, and daughter Skye, 12, all have achondroplasia, a condition that inhibits the growth of the arms and legs and also affects Paralympian Ellie.
She has already had an impact on her family, who are from Inverkeithing in Fife.
The Davidson family first became a member of the Dwarf Sports Association (DSA) ten years ago.
Skye and Finlay both liked training for and participating in a variety of sports, such as track and field, football, basketball, hockey, boccia, curling, archery, swimming, and badminton. Hailey assisted in the development of the association in Scotland.
The kids were encouraged and gained confidence as a result of participating in the events and games.
Ellie was also initially introduced to them there. Says Hailey “Ellie supports the DSA. At a national competition, we first encountered her.
“She shows there and assists with organizing, scoring, and the warm-up exercises for the kids. Since then, we have enjoyed a wonderful bond with her because we are both dwarfs.
“She speaks to all the children and serves as an excellent example and a great source of inspiration. All of the members of the dwarfism community look up to her because of everything she has accomplished, including her five gold medals as a Paralympian, her job as a Commonwealth Games commentator, and everything else.”
Skye continued, “She is fantastic, just a little enthusiastic and helping out, and she simply comes to a table with all her swimming things to give away to us, like water bottles from Tokyo or a bikini.”
On the Strictly stage, she enjoyed watching her perform.
“She was rather skilled in it. She was pretty fantastic even if she just learned for a short while. The sassy parts were good.”
More than that, in Hailey’s opinion. People are better able to comprehend her life as a result.
She said on BBC Scotland’s The Nine program that she was pleased to be paired with Nikita Kuzmin, a professional of average height.
Hailey continued: “In the neighborhood and the DSA, where my husband Scott, who is just under 6 feet tall, lives, we have all kinds of interactions.
“Numerous members of our group have dwarfism, and many of our wives and husbands are of average height.
“80% of children with dwarfism are from average-height parents, who might be extremely nervous and concerned about what the future holds for their child.
The fact that we are being portrayed in real life “means everything.” She is eager to find out how the program handles the partnership.
She stated: “People do look and make fun of the first dance my husband and I performed at our wedding, but I think Ellie showcasing it in this way with Nikita and the way they will have to adjust is going to be interesting.
“Mostly because we must adjust. Reaching objects and performing certain maneuvers are both impossible for us. It will be interesting to watch how they achieve it and just boost the self-confidence of everyone who has dwarfism.”
She also thinks that the inclusiveness of the program will benefit young viewers.
“Dwarfism might make you the lone person in the town or the only person in the school.
“However, when you have someone as huge and vivid on Strictly, showing that perhaps we must adjust, but that we are still good, still able, it helps the community to see that and for others to enjoy it.”
Ellie, a swimmer, addressed the issue before her first performance.
She stated:
“Yes, I am concerned about how it will be. We’re just going to see, like Nikita and I discussed yesterday.
It could seem different, and since my partner will be tall, we probably won’t be able to hold the same poses, but I’m confident it will work.
Also Read: Juan Williams Of Fox News Quits The Five! 43 Years Married Life
