WILL Bayley shot to fame as a gold medal winning Paralympian who has competed in the Games three times.
However, the table tennis star has revealed that he suffered a life-changing injury during rehearsals for Strictly.
Who is Will Bayley?
Born on January 17, 1988, Will Bayley is a Paralypian who is known for being a table tennis champ.
He was born with arthrogryposis which affects all four of his limbs.
Arthrogryposis is the term for conditions that cause multiple curved joints in areas of the body at birth.
It usually results in stiff joints and muscle weakness, and it is not seen as a genetic condition.
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He learnt to play table tennis after he was diagnosed with cancer at the age of seven and his grandma bought him a table.
At the age of 12, Will joined a table tennis club and went on to represent Kent’s able bodied men’s team.
He then lived and trained full time at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield at the age of 17.
Will first represented Team GB at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing.
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He then walked away with gold medals at both the German and Czech table tennis opens in 2009, as well as in Lignano and Brazil in 2010.
Will won a silver medal for Great Britain at the London 2012 Summer Paralympics and bagged his first gold medal at the Rio 2016 Summer Paralympics.
In 2017, he was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (BE) for services to table tennis.
Will also serves as an ambassador for Kent Sports Trust Foundation, Pepenbury and Disability Sports Coaching.
He was a Commonwealth Games ambassador for the Gold Coast Games in Australia 2018.
The table tennis player starred on an episode of Channel 4 show, First Dates, in 2016.
Will shares daughter Bella with his ex-partner Fiona York.
When was Will Bayley on Strictly?
Will appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2019, and was paired with Janette Manrara.
However, during rehearsals he suffered a horror fall and it was confirmed he was out of the competition all together.
Speaking in a statement at the time, he said: “I’m gutted my Strictly journey has had to come to an end.
“I’ve loved being part of the show, and am so grateful for the phenomenal support we have received.
There was no duty of care — I should have been taken to hospital as soon as I had the accident, but all they cared about was trying to get me to dance.
Will Bayley
“I want to say a special thank you to Janette for believing in me, and giving me the confidence to believe in myself.
“The things we achieved, from our couple’s choice dance, through to the lifts in our salsa, will stay with me forever. I’ve had the time of my life.”
What has Will Bayley said about his Strictly Come Dancing injury?
In July 2024, Will became the latest celebrity to speak out against crisis hit Strictly.
He now claims he was injured during rehearsals for the show after a jump he was attempting was branded “rubbish” by pro partner Janette.
After hearing his leg crack and suffering “horrific pain”, he claims he was taken to a hotel room where his knee was iced instead of going to hospital.
He also says bosses made him feel like it was his fault, with his torn knee ligaments forcing him to pull out of the series in 2019.
Janette has never received any complaints and has maintained friendships with all her partners, including Will.”
Spokesman for Janette Manrara
The table tennis ace has now blasted Strictly bosses over his life-changing injury, following the jump which he claims show producers were told was too dangerous.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Will said: “Now feels like the right time to speak up. I hope what I went through never happens to anyone else.
“I think the show thought they were being inclusive by casting me, but I actually felt pressured.
“I have got a serious disability and I don’t think anyone was really looking out for me when I injured myself, leaving me with injuries that still affect me to this day.
“No one has ever contacted me from the BBC or said sorry.
“There was no duty of care — I should have been taken to hospital as soon as I had the accident, but all they cared about was trying to get me to dance.”
A spokesman for Janette told The Sun: “Janette had a great time dancing with Will and one of her favourite moments on the show was doing their contemporary couples choice.
“Her celebrity partner’s safety and enjoyment was always the priority throughout her time on Strictly.
“Janette has never received any complaints and has maintained friendships with all her partners, including Will.”
