England rugby star Ellie Kildunne has spoken out about her secret struggle with body dysmorphia, which began during the 2020 coronavirus lockdown. Despite her success on the field, including scoring five tries in England's Rugby World Cup win, Kildunne has revealed that she felt isolated and alone after the tournament.
She has now spoken about her experiences with unhealthy weight loss and an eating disorder that developed during the pandemic, when she was unable to play competitive rugby. Kildunne has explained how she became fixated on being smaller, despite already being petite, and how this obsession led to a toxic relationship with food. She has credited a physio session at her previous club, Wasps, with helping her to confront her issues and has since found support and accountability.
Kildunne now feels in control and wants to use her platform to help others who may be struggling with similar issues, showing that even successful athletes can face personal challenges and that nobody is perfect.