England's rugby sensation Ellie Kildunne has bravely shared her personal battle with body dysmorphia, which began during the 2020 coronavirus lockdown. Despite her impressive performance in the Rugby World Cup, where she scored five tries, including a stunning solo effort in the final against Canada, Kildunne struggled with feelings of isolation and an unhealthy obsession with weight loss.
In a candid conversation with BBC Sport, she revealed how the lack of a team environment and the pressure to maintain a certain physique led to an eating disorder. Kildunne recalled, 'I would see myself as bigger in the mirror, even when I had lost weight.' She credits a physio session with lead physiotherapist Emily Ross at her former club Wasps for helping her confront the issue.
With Ross's support, Kildunne has since taken control of her struggles and now aims to use her platform to help others, saying, 'I want to show people that no one is perfect, and that even as a rugby player for England, I'm not a superhero.'