Team GB star Tom Dean has become the latest victim of the Strictly curse after splitting from his long-term girlfriend, MailOnline can reveal.
The Olympic swimmer, 24, secretly called off his relationship with communications executive Charlotte Phillips two weeks into the current series, in which he had been paired with Ukrainian dancer Nadiya Bychkova.
Tom became the first celebrity to leave Strictly this year after losing his place in the competition to Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones, who were eliminated the following week.
He admitted to feeling “really shocked” and “gutted” after receiving the fewest votes from the public and leaving the show in the first week.
But it wasn’t just the disappointment of becoming Strictly’s first ballroom casualty, as Tom was secretly heartbroken after his split from Lottie.
Sources close to London-born Tom told MailOnline the relationship had been in trouble for some time as the couple were “drifting apart” and insist Nadiya, 35, who split from professional partner Kai Widdrington, 29, last July was not a factor. .
The dance couples have been seen attending various events together, including last month’s Pride of Britain awards as part of their Strictly commitments.
A source revealed: “As with so many breakups, Tom and Lottie’s year-long relationship had naturally run its course and it has nothing to do with Strictly, it was simply within the first two weeks that they decided to split.” They remain good friends and everything is friendly between them.
Team GB star Tom Dean has become the latest victim of the Strictly curse after splitting from his long-term girlfriend, MailOnline can reveal.
The Olympic swimmer secretly called off his relationship with communications executive Charlotte Phillips (pictured) two weeks into the current series.
Tom, who was partnered with professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova, became the first celebrity to leave Strictly this year after losing her place in the competition to Toyah Willcox.
Sources close to Tom revealed the romance had been in trouble for some time as the couple were “drifting apart” and insist Nadiya, who split from Kai Widdrington last July, was not a factor.
The Olympian last posted a photo of Lottie on Instagram in August, where they were snuggling together in an office elevator.
She regularly shared information about the couple’s relationship online, such as the vacations they shared together and a picture from their welcome home party after the Paris Olympics, which featured Lottie.
But the executive had been absent from his Instagram for months as Tom continued to post about his Strictly couple with Nadiya.
They attended the Pride of Britain awards in October and last week enjoyed lunch together at The Waterside Inn, where a host of chefs cooked them “amazing food”.
Tom commented on a post Nadiya shared about the couple: ‘What a late night. The best food and the best company.’
The three-time Olympic gold medalist was Nadiya’s first strict partner in a year after she was given a celebrity no-show for the first time in 2023.
She was paired with singer Matt Goss in 2022 and the previous year starred alongside former BBC Breakfast Show presenter Dan Walker, with whom she remains a close friend.
Nadiya, who was previously engaged to Slovenian footballer Matija Skarabot, split from fellow professional dancer Kai in July.
MailOnline has contacted Tom’s representative for comment.
Tom regularly shared information about the couple’s relationship online, such as the holidays they shared together and a picture from their welcome home party after the Paris Olympics, which featured Lottie.
The three-time Olympic gold medalist was Nadiya’s first strict partner in a year after she was given a celebrity no-show for the first time in 2023.
Tom and Nadiya attended the Pride of Britain awards in October and last week enjoyed lunch together at The Waterside Inn, where a host of chefs cooked them “amazing food”.
Tom reached the final of the men’s 200m individual medley at the Paris Olympics and was part of the men’s 4x200m freestyle gold medal team.
He received an MBE in the New Year Honors in 2022 for his services to swimming.
The world champion dancer is reportedly leading a series of strict professionals who risk being eliminated from the series.
Bosses are reportedly keen to give the show a “big shake”, starting with the professional dancers at the center of the show.
It follows a year of scandal surrounding the dance competition after Graziano Di Prima was sacked for his poor treatment of his celebrity partner Zara McDermott.
Tom’s brief appearance on Strictly may have surprised you, as he usually excels in a competitive environment.
He reached the final of the men’s 200m individual medley at the Paris Olympics and was part of the men’s 4x200m freestyle gold medal team.
Three years earlier, he won gold in the men’s 200m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle at the Tokyo Games.
Tom was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honors in 2022 for his services to swimming.