Born in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, in 2001, Jodie Ounsley is an athlete, tv character and writer. A former England rugby sevens participant, she is the primary deaf feminine rugby participant for a senior England facet. In 2024, she joined the BBC revival of the sequence Gladiators, during which she competes as Fury; the identical yr, she was one of many presenters for the 2024 Paralympics. Her second guide, Strong Girls, co-written with Becky Grey, is out on 9 April.
I was six and had simply bought again from karate observe when Mum mentioned, “Right, let’s take a picture!” Most children would have stood politely and smiled, however my first intuition was to do the deadliest pose.
This photograph sums up my mentality as slightly child. I was the powerful lady who beloved contact sports activities. I was decided, fiery, fearless and wished to get caught into the whole lot. Usain Bolt was my hero and I wished to be quick simply like him. There was a operating joke in my household when it got here to sports activities day – I handled it like it was the Olympics, taking it so severely that it turned borderline ridiculous. All the opposite children would compete in shorts and a T-shirt – your conventional PE package – whereas I would flip as much as college in a blue muscle vest, monitor shorts and precise trainers.
It was vital that I was the most effective, particularly when it got here to racing towards the boys. At first they had been quicker than me, however when I was about 12, I determined I’d prepare laborious and make it my purpose to be the quickest individual in my yr. When the day got here I was nervous, however as I crossed the end line I realised I’d received and it was the most effective day ever. It felt wonderful realizing my physique might do this if I put within the work.
No matter how bold I was, my household made my dedication to sport really feel regular. My mum is the kindest individual ever and gave me a lot emotional assist, whereas my grandparents had been my greatest followers – any time I received a race they’d take me out for a carvery afterwards. My weekends could be spent with my dad, coaching, then consuming hen nuggets and watching Britain’s Got Talent collectively.
Dad was my favorite coaching associate and a complete inspiration. He was even on the unique sequence of Gladiators as a contestant. He did combined martial arts, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and the World Coal Carrying Championships – this weird Yorkshire occasion the place you run a kilometre with a sack of coal in your shoulders. Dad mentioned the primary second he realised my future could be in sport was when he noticed me decide up a sack of carrots and run across the kitchen with it on my again. I was attempting to repeat him, and I saved going and going. I was completely decided.
Even although it was fairly uncommon for slightly lady to be so into male-dominated sports activities, dad by no means made me really feel unusual for it. He always celebrated me for being sturdy. When I went to highschool, I began to understand that there weren’t many girls like me. Most performed hockey or netball, whereas I always liked bashing into individuals. There had been undoubtedly instances when I doubted myself or felt totally different. I tried out another sports activities I was much less good at, like soccer. I rapidly realised I was too aggressive for it. I even tried ballet and faucet. But the whole lot modified when I discovered rugby.
At first I wasn’t allowed to play. I was born profoundly deaf and had a cochlear implant when I was 14 months outdated. The recommendation from medical doctors was that I couldn’t do contact sports activities due to the dangers associated to having a magnet in your head and the hazard of dislodging it. But then my youthful brother began enjoying rugby and I went to all his video games and realised I beloved it, too. Eventually my mother and father bought sick of me nagging them and Dad discovered an answer: I might play if I wore a scrum cap. Once I began, my profession took off and I’m so proud that, as a deaf individual, I was capable of navigate these obstacles and break by way of. One of my proudest moments was getting my first England cap in rugby. It had been my purpose, and I had reached it.
When I noticed that they had been wanting for new Gladiators, I utilized considering nothing would come of it. I bought invited to a trial, then needed to meet some producers and speak about what I’m actually enthusiastic about. I advised them I wished to assist different children – that it’s actually vital to me to make the world a greater place for disabled individuals. I simply need to make certain younger individuals know that nothing ought to maintain you again, regardless of who you’re. Obviously I did one thing proper, as a result of I turned Fury.
My Gladiator title comes from my aggressive spirit – I swap into recreation mode when I have a job to do. As quickly as I’m not in that setting, I’m removed from indignant or up for a struggle. I’m truly very shy, heat and chilled, and I actually need the consolation of my own residence. I must push myself to be that assured individual – it’s a fake-it-till-you-make-it state of affairs.
The first time I bought recognised, I had popped out to get some milk. I’d injured my shoulder so I was in a sling, and I didn’t look like a Gladiator – my hair was in a proper state and I was wearing pyjamas. I walked into the nook store and heard these children screaming, “It’s you! It’s Fury!” It was a stunning second, however being on TV would by no means change me. Having the household I do retains me humble. They’d give me a proper telling-off if I ever bought above my station.
My dad died instantly final yr. We are all dealing with it otherwise – Mum wants her personal house, and my brother is nineteen and again at uni surrounded by associates. What helps me with grief is having a purpose and a spotlight, whether or not it’s coaching or work, and in addition speaking about him. But I must watch out that I don’t throw myself into being too preoccupied and never give myself any time to course of the whole lot.
During instances like this, I actually depend on the individuals round me. My mum has always felt like dwelling, and now my girlfriend Ellen feels like dwelling, too. We met when I was 16 and enjoying rugby, so we’ve been associates for many of my life. Now that friendship has blossomed into a relationship. It’s fairly overwhelming attempting to be an extrovert when I’m truly an introvert, however Ellen grounds me – we had been always one another’s protected house and she or he brings me consolation in numerous chaotic conditions. Recently I forgot the battery for my implant earlier than I had a presenting job at the weekend. Ellen went straight into care mode: “Don’t worry – we can sign with each other and I can explain to the people at the job what’s going on.” Like my dad, she comes up with options which I couldn’t consider within the second.
If that child within the photograph might see me now, she’d in all probability say, “Are you joking me?” She’d be shocked and happy with the whole lot I’ve completed; utterly mind-blown. Even within the final couple of years my confidence has grown, within the nicest means doable. But except for that, she’d be reassured that I am nonetheless the identical individual – I nonetheless get nerves and anxiousness, like everybody else, and I nonetheless love being sturdy.
