Wisbech-born Paralympian Jody Cundy taking part in Strictly Come Dancing
"I've spent my life in Lycra so that bit doesn't scare me, it's the dancing that scares me"
Wisbech-born cyclist Jody Cundy is taking part in this year's Strictly Come Dancing.
The Paralympian joins the likes of journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy and TV presenter Angela Scanlon.
Cundy, 44, is an eight-time gold medallist who has represented Great Britain at seven summer Paralympics competing in cycling and swimming events.
He was unveiled on BBC Radio 5 Live this morning.
He said: "I've spent my life in Lycra so that bit doesn't scare me, it's the dancing that scares me...
"I can't believe I'm doing this. I am literally the last person to get dragged on the dancefloor so this is jumping feet first in at the deep end, something I never imagined myself doing, but you've just got to say yes when they come saying, 'Do you want to be on Strictly?'"
Jody has also competed in multiple World Championships, winning 23 world titles, most recently at the World Cycling Championships in Glasgow this week, but said the prospect getting knocked out of Strictly early will be more nerve-inducing: "My most nervous thing would be going out in the first week - even talking about it now my heart is pumping.
"I had a world championship final literally last night and my heart rate is probably higher now than it was then."
Cundy, who holds the world record in the Flying 200m and the 1km Time Trial and took 14 consecutive world titles in the MC4 Kilo Time Trial, said his team will be testing him before and after Strictly training to see if dancing practice impacts his performance.
He added he will be seeking advice from former Strictly star and Paralympian Jonnie Peacock, saying: "He is an amputee as well and he gets his legs done by the same people who do my legs, so hopefully there will be some tips in there to get the most out of the prosthetics."