FANS are just realising that Team GB rugby sevens star Grace Crompton is the step-granddaughter of West End actor and singer Michael Ball.
The 22-year-old is the youngest rugby squad member and started in Monday night’s Olympics quarterfinal defeat to the USA.
Ball, 62, married Crompton’s grandmother Cathy McGowan before she was born, and the iconic performer has always been a part of her life.
The rugby ace revealed that the couple she calls ‘Bumpy and Bally’ are two of her biggest supporters.
Crompton told BBC Radio 2: “Bally is my step-grandad, but he’s been in our family since my mum Emma was born, so he’s all I’ve ever known.
“In all seriousness, he is an absolute fan of ours. He always tells me that he never thought he would be cheering on women’s rugby sevens, but here he is now.
“He watches every stop on the series with my grandma. They put on the live stream with a glass of wine in hand and watch all day.
“They are the biggest supporters ever, and I guess he’s great at what he does as well.
“I will never say no to a bit of Les Mis on the team bus.”
Ball, best known for appearing in Les Miserables, Aspects Of Love and other musicals, was unable to have children of his own after suffering serious injuries in a parachuting accident as a teenager.
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The OBE recipient is also godfather to her older brother Connor.
Speaking of family bonds, Ball previously said: “I never thought a baby was going to come into my life in any shape or form, let alone one I was going to be so close to.”
WHAT TO WATCH TODAY...
The Paris 2024 Olympics is now well underway with medals being ticked off and huge events still to come.
SunSport brings you all the action taking place in the French capital on a what is expected to be a huge third day.
TODAY’S BRIT MEDAL HOPES
Alex Yee was due to be in action in the men’s triathlon but due to pollution in the River Seine, the event has been postponed.
The Team GB 4x200m men’s freestyle swimming squad are packed with talent and could be in for gold (8.59pm).
And the women’s gymnastics team could also get a podium finish but it’s a strong field including Simone Biles’ USA (5.15pm).
BRITS TO WATCH
Kieran Reilly and Charlotte Worthington get underway in the freestyle BMX qualifiers (12.25pm).
Joe Clarke and Mallory Franklin are both in canoe slalom action, while the men’s hockey side face top-dogs the Netherlands.
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Clarisse Agbegnenou carried the flag for France at the opening ceremony.
She can back that up with a third Olympic judo gold in the -63kg final (4.49pm).
FANCY SOMETHING DIFFERENT?
It is the final day of the rugby sevens for this Olympics, ending with the final at the 70,000-seater Stade de France at 6.45pm.
And the street-style 3×3 basketball gets underway at the spectacular La Concorde venue at the bottom of the Champs-Elysees in the heart of the city.
Click here for all the events taking place at Paris 2024 today.
Follow all the action as it unfolds with our Paris 2024 Olympics LIVE blog.
Crompton scored two tries in Paris during Great Britain’s 26-17 victory over South Africa.
But the side crashed out of the Olympics after finishing fourth in the women’s rugby sevens at the previous two Games.
Meanwhile, Crompton’s team-mate Amy Wilson-Hardy is under investigation after allegedly making a racist comment on WhatsApp.
British Olympic Association officials are probing a screenshot of a conversation which allegedly involves the 32-year-old and an unknown person.
Elsewhere, Crompton left Bristol Bears for Harlequins this summer.
Gracie’s first try scored at the Olympics
— Michael Ball OBE@TeamGB pic.twitter.com/7CTl3xU4PI
(@mrmichaelball) July 30, 2024
