England's Rugby World Cup winner Ellie Kildunne has spoken out about her secret battle with body dysmorphia, which began during the 2020 coronavirus lockdown. Despite her impressive performance in the Rugby World Cup, including scoring five tries in the tournament, Kildunne struggled with feelings of isolation and disconnection from her body.
She has now revealed 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 spoken about how she would see herself as bigger in the mirror, despite being considered small in the rugby world. She has credited a physio session with lead physiotherapist Emily Ross at her previous club Wasps for helping her to confront her issues and seek support.
Kildunne has said that she now feels in control and is using her platform to raise awareness about body dysmorphia and support others who may be struggling with similar issues.