Fragapane focussed on Strictly success

The competition is hotting up on the Strictly dancefloor with gymnast Claudia Fragapane wowing the public with her incredible performances on the BBC blockbuster show.

Claudia is amongst the six celebrities left on the show as it heads in to its final weeks. In a short break from training we caught up with our Team GB gymnast to find out more about her experiences on the show, how her gymnastics training has helped her and how the support of gymnastics fans across the country has inspired her.

Claudia, how crazy was it to go from Rio Olympian to Strictly contestant?

“It was really crazy. I was literally straight off the plane from Rio in to a car and in to interviews for Strictly! My first experience of dancing was really, really scary because I really sure what to expect. I think I made AJ my dance partner really nervous because I would go really quiet and focussed, like competition mode in gymnastics.

At first I’d panic that I’d forget the routines but it’s like in gymnastics, it’s amazing how much you learn and progress and gain confidence from your training and I soon started to love it.”

How has your gymnastics training helped you?

“I think being a gymnast definitely gave me an advantage in terms of holding my posture and picking up routines but on the flip side it meant I struggled to adapt to the more flowy style of dancing.

I’ve always …

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