JODIE Ounsley found mainstream fame earlier this year thanks to her impressive on-screen persona as Fury on Gladiators.
The role saw the former rugby player branch into the exciting world of television aged just 23 after a life spent dreaming of being a top sports star.
Yet, she is now achieving her dreams in sports in a whole new way and one she admits was previously “unimaginable”.
Off the back of her Gladiators success, Jodie has now landed a dream role as one of Channel 4‘s flagship faces for this year’s extensive Paralympics Games coverage from Paris.
It is the star’s first mainstream TV presenting role and also her first big gig as herself as opposed to her feisty Fury personality.
Ahead of taking on her role as a roving reporter at the Games, Jodie opened up in an exclusive interview with The Sun to discuss her biggest TV opportunity to date.
Jodie admitted that she was originally left in disbelief upon hearing that she had bagged the role.
She told us: “I was just like, ‘what?’
“To have that opportunity at the Paralympics as a presenter, even if I’m not competing as an athlete, it still feels like a pinch-me moment.
“But when things seem very scary, I have that mentality of ‘I’m just going to do it anyway’ as you’ll never know what could come from it.”
Jodie’s first brush with fame came when she was the first-ever deaf woman to play rugby for England‘s side as well as also being the world’s first professional deaf rugby sevens international.
It was here that Jodie discovered she had a passion for sports and found herself imagining life as a competitive Paralympian.
Jodie said: “Ever since being young, I’ve always had the dream of wanting to be an Olympian.
“I didn’t originally know what sports but I obviously fell into rugby but I just never quite got there.”
Jodie opted to walk away from playing professional rugby in April of this year in order to pursue new opportunities after finding a new platform as a result of her TV success.
It also came off the back of a shoulder injury which allowed the star time to rethink how best to utilise her career with a brand new focus on media opportunities and the world of sports broadcasting.
“All the things I’ve been doing for the last few years, it’s all been around wanting to be a good person and for me to be someone that young kids look up to,” Jodie told us.
“Especially with anything promoting disabilities so this role with Channel 4 was just like so a bit of me!
“I’ve watched the Olympics and the Paralympics all my life and it’s weird as in some way, I am now at the Paralympics even just in a presenting role.”
She admitted that her role on Gladiators has provided her with a steady training ground for the world of TV and has allowed her confidence to flourish as she affirms she now “backs herself” more when it comes to top opportunities.
“With Gladiators I just threw myself into it and it did land me so many amazing opportunities – one of them being this role with Channel 4.”
It will also allow Jodie a time to shine as herself without the Fury label from the hit BBC show but she recognises there are similarities between both herself and her character.
She said: “I’m not somebody who sugarcoats things or tries to be somebody that I’m not.
“I think now where I go, I meet people and they act as if they are expecting me to just tackle them thanks to Gladiators.
“Fury isn’t an act but it is my competitive nature and my drive coming to the forefront.
“But I won’t be tackling anyone down when I get to Paris!”
For her first major gig, Jodie will be surrounded by some TV hosting heavyweights with the likes of Vick Hope and Ade Adepitan as well as stars such as Rose Ayling-Ellis, Billy Monger and Ellie Simmonds.
Jodie confessed that a WhatsApp group for the superstar hosts to keep in touch is imminent with plans for some big outings already lined up for the hosts in Paris.
The star has also been supported with media training sessions ahead of her role – something which has provided comfort and support for Jodie.
She said: “The guys at Whisper [production company] have just been guiding me through media training and the biggest thing I’ve taken away from it is to just be yourself.
“If you go out there, just enjoy it and just really embrace it then that will be so natural.
“If I go out being nervous and think ‘I’m not good enough’ then it is going to show.”
Channel 4 will be broadcasting extensive coverage of the 2024 Paralympic Games live from Paris beginning with the opening ceremony this Wednesday live from 6:30pm.
