December 19th 2024.
We are only days away from the highly anticipated Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special for 2024, which is set to be one of the biggest TV events on Christmas Day aired by the BBC. With all the excitement building up, one of the stars participating in this year's special has shared a throwback picture from 2005 that has left fans in awe.
The picture features Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, now 36 years old, attending the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards as a teenager. Looking almost unrecognizable from his current self, Harry was just starting his journey in the world of athletics. Little did he know that almost twenty years later, he would be gracing the Strictly dance floor in a completely different environment, hoping to impress the four tough judges on December 25.
Although most viewers know him as the beloved Nitro from Gladiators, Harry's appearance on the Sports Personality of the Year red carpet was for a different reason back in 2005. At the young age of 17, he was awarded the Young Sports Personality award, a prestigious achievement at the time. This was just the beginning of his successful athletic career, which saw him win three gold medals at the European Athletics Championships and two more at the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Looking back at that monumental moment in his life, Harry recently took to Instagram to share his thoughts and gratitude. Alongside pictures from the latest awards ceremony and from two decades ago, he wrote, "Sports Personality of the Year 2024 - What a full-circle moment! From winning Young Sports Personality of the Year in 2005, a life-changing achievement and the making of 'Harry AA', to now presenting this award with @jodieounsley to the incredible @lukethenukelittler. A moment I'm truly grateful for!"
Fast forward to today, Harry still looks as dapper as ever as he attended this year's Sports Personality of the Year Awards in a dark green suit jacket and bowtie, accompanied by his Gladiators co-star Jodie Ounsley. Together, they presented darts player Luke Littler, who is just 17 years old, with the same award that Harry had received many years ago. The event was held at Salford's MediaCityUK studios and had a strong crowd in attendance.
Other notable recipients of the Young Sports Personality award include Formula 1 driver Jenson Button, ex-England footballer Wayne Rooney, and Wimbledon champion Andy Murray. Olympic diver Tom Daley has won the award three times, along with Paralympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds and Manchester City football player Phil Foden.
Now, Harry will be trading the track for the ballroom as he partners up with professional dancer Nancy Xu for the Strictly Christmas Special. Nancy, who made it to week eight with X Factor winner Shayne Ward this year, is ready to take on the dance floor with Harry by her side. The duo will be competing against comedian and presenter Josh Widdicombe and his partner Karen Hauer, as well as RuPaul's Drag Race UK star Tayce, who will be paired with Kai Widdrington.
Other celebrity contestants include presenter Vogue Williams with Gorka Márquez, actress Tamzin Outhwaite with Nikita Kuzman, and racing driver Billy Monger with Nadiya Bychkova. Speaking about his upcoming appearance on the Christmas Special, Harry said, "Strictly, are you ready? Nitro's blasting onto the ballroom floor this Christmas! I'm swapping my trainers for dancing shoes, and trust me, I'm bringing the power, the energy, and the moves! This December, I'm going to light up that dancefloor and crank the Christmas spirit all the way up. Let's do this!"
Fans will surely be rooting for Harry to outdo his performance on this year's Celebrity MasterChef, where he was beaten by none other than Strictly professional Vito Coppola. Don't miss the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2024, airing on Christmas Day at 3:55pm on BBC One.
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