Strictly star Zara McDermott ‘secretly danced with damaged bone’

Former Love Island star Zara McDermott reportedly suffered a damaged bone on final yr’s Strictly Come Dancing.

She allegedly competed with a extreme leg harm that went undiagnosed till after she was eradicated from the favored dance competitors.

Zara McDermott on Strictly

The 27-year-old pushed by means of excruciating ache throughout rigorous coaching periods, a report claims. Zara was paired with skilled dancer Graziano Di Prima.

She was reportedly unaware she had sustained a damaged leg bone and extreme ligament harm.

The harm first started as a “niggly ache” however shortly escalated. This required the star to depend on painkillers to endure the ten-hour coaching days, in accordance with the report.

Regardless of the ache, Zara and Graziano apparently determined to proceed competing.

“It was a literal horror present in each sense of the phrase,” a supply advised The Sun.

The severity of her situation reportedly got here to gentle following an X-ray shortly after her elimination from the present. The X-ray confirmed a stress fracture on her left tibia and important ligament harm.

The insider added: “She began creating a extremely unhealthy, niggly ache in her left leg at coaching. The ache obtained worse, and by the previous couple of weeks, she was in agony, popping painkillers earlier than, throughout, and after periods.

“She made Graziano conscious of her discomfort however he was fairly adamant they wanted to crack on. Clearly they each needed to get the very best scores potential, and sadly, she pushed by means of the ache.”

Her dedication noticed her silently enduring the harm with out disclosing the complete extent of her struggling to the manufacturing staff, it’s claimed.

It was solely after her departure from the competitors and the rising agony that she sought hospital therapy.

“By the point of her final dance, she was in lots of ache and limping by means of the strikes,” the supply shared. “She will be able to’t watch it again because it brings again too many agonising recollections.”

ED! has contacted reps for Zara and the BBC for remark.

Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima

In the meantime, Zara’s former dance associate Graziano was let go from the favored BBC present earlier this month.

It got here amid allegations of gross misconduct. Graziano has been accused of kicking, hitting and spitting at Zara. His rep not too long ago confirmed he did ‘kick’ Zara – one thing he “apologised on the time” for.

Zara issued a statement final week, admitting she “wrestled with the worry of opening up”.

Graziano mentioned in a press release: “I deeply remorse the occasions that led to my departure from Strictly. My intense ardour and willpower to win might need affected my coaching regime.”

Elsewhere, actress Amanda Abbington withdrew from the competitors final yr. She has since accused her former dance associate Giovanni Pernice of ‘bullying’.

Giovanni, who has additionally left Strictly, has denied “suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour”.

Learn extra: Strictly 2024: Zara McDermott’s close friend Pete Wicks ‘signs up for show’ amid crisis

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