Strictly's Tabby Stoecker reflects on father's death when she was just a baby and how she has turned devastating grief into her 'super strength'

Published: 15:04 EST, 14 November 2026 | Updated: 15:04 EST, 14 November 2026 Losing a parent as a young child is something most would consider inconceivable.But for Olympian-turned Strictly Come Dancing star Tabitha 'Tabby' Stoecker, her beloved father’s untimely death has inspired her to take on new challenges and opportunities, such as signing up for the dance series.The British Skeleton racer and Olympic champion, 25, tragically lost her dad in a fatal car crash when she was just a one-year-old.Ms Stoecker, who was raised by her mother following his passing, said: ‘I'd say that having something like that happen to you, it changes your outlook and perspective on the whole world, right? And it can be really difficult.‘But I'm really grateful that what I've taken from it is that I have to seize every moment and every opportunity.‘And I would say that it helps me stay grounded, it helps me stay positive, it helps me lead with compassion and curiosity about what everyone else is going through, because you just never know. The British Skeleton racer and Olympic champion, 25, tragically lost her dad in a fatal car crash when she was just a one-year-old Ms Stoecker, who placed second on last week’s leaderboard with her professional partner Mark Karmalita, is a favourite to win this year’s series and lift the coveted glitterball trophy‘I do think that then means in the hard moments or the days where my feet really hurt and I don't know if I can do it, I remember that I can and I want to, and I wanna take these opportunities and I want to enjoy it because I don't know what the next day's gonna hold.’Ms Stoecker, who placed second on last week’s leaderboard with her professional partner Mark Karmalita, is a favourite to win this year’s series and lift the coveted glitterball trophy.The Londoner, who won a gold medal earlier this year, added: ‘I would say it's become a super strength and I am, in a weird way, really grateful that's what I've taken from what's happened to me.’However, she admitted how she assumed there would be ‘more of a crossover’ between her Skeleton racing and Strictly, but found out they are ‘almost polar opposites’.‘The way that I feel the fear and the way that I feel the adrenaline are like almost totally different. And I thought I would feel really prepared, and we have that 30 seconds before we dance, I have to do deep breaths just to calm down.’It is just the start of Ms Stoecker’s television career, having recently been announced as a brand new addition to the BBC’s Gladiators reboot.The nostalgic competition show returns for its fourth series in January 2027 with Ms Stoecker as a superhuman.She is currently dating Pat Atkin, who has also competed as a Skeleton race driver, though has now retired and is working in sports marketing.