Strictly Come Dancing couple Adam Peaty and Katya Jones have taken part in an exclusive interview and photoshoot with HELLO! Magazine - and the Olympian tells the magazine how he prefers training on the dancefloor than in the pool.
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“I have been swimming for nearly 17 years and I’m glad I’ve had this challenge,” champion swimmer Adam tells HELLO!. “I’ve learnt so much about my body and my mental state from dancing. It’s so energetic and positive.
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You never know when your Strictly’s going to be over so I’ve made sure I enjoy it. Swimming is very tedious to train for but with dancing, if you get the right song, it can be the most amazing ten hours you’ve ever spent. I love music.
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"It’s nice to show people I’m not just a swimmer and can be versatile and do something else.”
But with three Olympic gold medals and 14 world records to his name, he has found it hard to work alongside a partner. “As a solo athlete, I’m still getting used to having a partner and that has been a very eye-opening experience,” he adds.
And Katya is full of praise for her dance partner. “I’ve worked with athletes before and they’re always prepared but I remind Adam that everyone else is doing 40 to 50 hours a week too and putting in 100 percent and it really shows,” says Katya.
“It’s not just about the steps and hard work; it’s also the connection and the feeling you leave people with. You don’t just do the steps; you’ve got to perform them.”
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Adam says that he is also enjoying forming friendships with his fellow celebrities on the show.
“I love sitting down on a Friday night with some of the others, having a glass of wine and chatting about what they do in their jobs and what I do in mine. They’re a great bunch of people and we all want each other to do well.”
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