Struggling with Feelings of Not Being Good Enough

Ellie Simmonds has opened up about her struggle with self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy over the past year as she transitions from her illustrious swimming career to television. One of Britain’s most celebrated Paralympians, Simmonds boasts eight Paralympic medals, including two golds by the age of 13 at the Beijing Games. She retired from competitive swimming after the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021.

Now 29, Simmonds is embarking on a new journey in front of the camera, serving as part of the presenting team for Paris 2024 on Eurosport and preparing to cover the Paralympics for Channel 4 starting August 28. However, she admits the past year has been challenging. “I’m finding my identity in a way, finding that confidence, and I definitely have a lot of self-doubt at the moment,” she confessed. “Just doubting my abilities and doubting I can do things.”

Born with achondroplasia, a genetic form of dwarfism, Simmonds is no stranger to overcoming challenges. “Some days I feel like I can do everything, but then you have some days where you feel like you can’t do it, you’re not capable and you’re not good enough,” she said. “Because you see people and you compare yourself to other people.”

The transition from athlete to TV presenter has been a significant shift. “It’s been amazing to still be part of that whole Olympic buzz, but just in a different capacity. I have missed it,” she shared. “I know what the athletes are feeling like—the nerves, the excitement, the adrenaline—especially when a race goes well.”

Live TV, she notes, has some similarities to professional sports. “It’s still the thrill, still the exact same thing that you’ve got to nail it, you’ve got to do the right thing, say the right things and perform at the right things, like in front of an audience again.”

Simmonds has also showcased her versatility by starring on “Strictly Come Dancing” in 2022 and fronting documentaries such as BBC’s “Ellie Simmonds: A World Without Dwarfism?” and ITV’s “Ellie Simmonds: Finding My Secret Family,” which explored her adoption and search for her birth mother.

As part of a campaign for Ancestry, Simmonds delved into her genetic makeup, participating alongside 15 top athletes who had their DNA analyzed to launch a new interactive DNA experience. The campaign aims to help people compare their own traits to those of sports stars like Simmonds, Nicola Adams, and Kriss Akabusi.

The former swimmer scored above average on traits like oxygen use and determination but humorously noted, “I’m bad at a bat and ball. I’m less likely to be a high jumper. I am less likely to be a leader.” She found it particularly fascinating to understand her genetic predispositions, given her status as an adopted child.

Simmonds’ love for swimming began at age five, and by 13, she was already competing in the Paralympics in Beijing 2008. She became the youngest person ever to receive an MBE in 2009. Despite retiring, she still swims once a week to stay connected to her long-time passion. “Just to hit the walls for 30 minutes, just to swim, just to stay connected again. It helps me mentally more than anything else,” she said.

Aside from swimming, Simmonds also keeps fit with bootcamp classes, reformer Pilates, and gym work. She now frames fitness in a different light. “Exercise is amazing. It’s good for your body, it’s good for your mental health. But you know what? If it doesn’t happen, it’s not the end of the world. So it’s just doing it for fun, doing it for your feelings, doing it for mentally feeling good, physically feeling good, and just doing it when you can,” she explained.

To stay motivated, she prefers morning workouts. “I try and just get my gym stuff out on the floor before I go to bed. So then I set my alarm, have a coffee, and then go, and then it’s done,” Simmonds noted. However, since retiring, she’s had to come to terms with her changing body. “When I was an athlete, I was pushing my body to its limits every day. I was very strong. I could eat what I wanted, and then all of a sudden, that exercise and routine goes, and your body does change.”

“I’m thankful I still get to do exercise, and I love doing exercise. Yes, my body’s not as strong, or not as thin or skinny as it used to be. But at this moment, I’m quite happy with my body,” she concluded.

See how you measure up against world-class athletes with the launch of 30 new AncestryDNA® genetic performance traits at Ancestry.co.uk.

Source: Particle News, Ancestry.co.uk