England's rugby sensation Ellie Kildunne has come forward to share her personal battle with body dysmorphia, which began to take hold during the 2020 coronavirus lockdown. Kildunne, a key player in England's Rugby World Cup victory last year, scoring five tries including a remarkable solo effort in the final against Canada, recently spoke about feeling isolated following the high of the World Cup win. She has now spoken out about her struggles with unhealthy weight loss and the eating disorder that developed during the pandemic when she was unable to participate in competitive rugby. Kildunne, who has released her autobiography 'Game Changer', explained how her perception of her body image became distorted, saying, 'I could see myself getting smaller, but I was still trying to be even smaller.' She credits a physio session at her previous club, Wasps, with helping her confront the issue, after lead physiotherapist Emily Ross expressed concern for her well-being.
Kildunne has since found support and now feels 'in control', able to discuss her struggles without being triggered. She hopes to use her platform to help others, acknowledging that 'no-one's perfect' and seeking to relate to those who may be facing similar challenges.