Last night, Kadeena Cox appeared on our screens as part of the in I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! line up this year. The 2021 season follows in the same footsteps as last year, trading in the jungle for a more pandemic-friendly castle-themed competition, shot in Wales.
Almost immediately upon entering camp, Kadeena had viewers Googling to know more about her. In fact, right now she's the most searched for celebrity on the show, with breakout search surrounding her disability of multiple sclerosis.
In fact, Kadeena being on the show has seen an uptake in search for 'multiple sclerosis' and 'ms disability', proving just competing in the reality show she is already raising awareness of the debilitating condition.
So, who is Kadeena Cox?
Born in Leeds, the 30-year-old athlete is a four-time Paralympic gold medallist. Before competing, she attended Manchester Metropolitan University where she studied physiotherapy. Then, she competed for Great Britain at the 2016 Summer Paralympics. She is clearly multi-talented, having competed as both a sprinter and a cyclist. Kadeena won a bronze medal in the Women's 100m T38 sprint, and a gold medal before winning a gold medal in the Women's C4-5 cycling time trial and another gold in the T38 400m sprint becoming the first British Paralympian to win golds in multiple sports within the same Olympic event since 1984.
Since winning her gold medals, she has continued to compete as a British parasport athlete and also works as a TV presenter.
So yeah, she’s pretty talented and certainly one to watch in this season’s I’m a Celeb.
What is Kadeena Cox’s disability?
Ahead of the first episode of I’m a Celeb - which aired on Sunday - Kadeena revealed that she was determined to still compete to the best of her ability at Gwyrch Castle, despite having been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) when she was 23-years-old, back in 2014.
Kadeena began sprinting as a professional athlete at just the age of 15 but was rushed into hospital after she had suffered a stroke and underwent several months of physiotherapy to recover. But some months later, Kadeena began suffering the same symptoms, leading her to be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
What is multiple sclerosis, and how will it affect her competing?
This lifelong condition can affect the brain and spinal cord, causing a wide range of symptoms, including problems with vision, arm or leg movement, sensation or balance.
Despite being an actual Paralympic gold medallist, Kadeena did have reservations and fears about competing in I’m a Celeb.
‘I didn’t want to be that person that would be exempt from loads of trials,' she told Radio Times. 'I’ve always been a person who is more about what I can do rather than what I can’t do, but I have spoken with the team and we talked about ways in which we can adapt things and ways in which we can make sure I can do the trials without having to miss opportunities.’
Thankfully, Kadeena revealed that the I’m a Celeb team has adapted the Bushtucker Trials to her multiple sclerosis so that she’ll still be able to compete. ‘It’s great that the team have worked so closely with me to make sure that I won’t have to feel like my disability is holding me back,’ she said.
Clearly Kadeena is off to a good start, as she won her first challenge with fellow athlete Matty Lee, helping the red team to victory and winning their first night in the castle, while the losing team spent the evening on the bare-minimum rations provided by the show.
We’re excited to see her compete in the rest of the season!
Read More:
Would You Boycott I'm A Celebrity Over The Bushtucker Trials?
I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Everything You Need to Know About the 2021 Season