Former England football star Karen Carney has made a stunning revelation ahead of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 final, crediting the BBC show with 'fixing' her after a profound crisis of confidence following her retirement from the sport.
From Football Pitch to Dancefloor: A Journey of Recovery
The 38-year-old, who earned a record 144 caps for the Lionesses, is now the favourite to lift the Glitterball Trophy with her professional partner, Carlos Gu. This is a scenario the Birmingham-born athlete admits she could never have imagined when she hung up her boots in 2019.
Despite a successful transition into punditry for Sky Sports and ITV, Carney has been open about experiencing a significant dip in self-assurance after leaving professional football. Speaking to the Daily Mail, she confessed that Strictly Come Dancing rescued her from the doldrums and restored her 'mojo'.
'I joined the show because I'm a massive fan,' Carney said. 'For the past five to six years I have been honest about how I have been crushed quite a lot in terms of my confidence. I couldn't figure out how to fix that.'
She explained that she always felt in her heart that the show would be the thing to help her, viewing it as a safe environment to rebuild herself. Her instinct proved correct, with the experience allowing her to open up about past struggles and regain appreciation for her talents.
A Surprise Package and a Historic Partnership
Karen Carney has been the surprise package of the series. With little known dancing background, she impressed from the early stages and has consistently topped the leaderboard, avoiding the dance-off entirely.
She and Carlos Gu scored a perfect 40 for their Couple's Choice routine to Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way'. After leading the semi-final, they are now poised for victory in Saturday's final, though Carney remains modest.
'I genuinely never believed I would get to the final,' she admitted, reflecting on their week one Jive. 'We just thought we would go out there, smile, and have the best time.'
She heaped praise on her partner, Carlos Gu, stating: 'This guy next to me has definitely done that for me, and it's by far the happiest I have ever been. I have smiled like I have never smiled before.'
Teammates, Not Competitors: An Athlete's Mindset
Displaying a team spirit honed on the football pitch, Carney says she views fellow finalists Amber Davies and George Clarke as teammates rather than rivals.
'I don't really see this as a competition,' she explained. 'I genuinely see these guys as my teammates. I would have their backs all day, every day, maybe that's the athlete in me.'
She added that her experience of a fleeting football career—bursting onto the scene at 17 and retiring by 2019—taught her to live in the moment. 'For me, this experience has been about enjoying every second... It's not about the Glitterball, it's much bigger than that.'
For Carlos Gu, a win would be historic. The 31-year-old Chinese dancer would become the first Asian and openly gay professional to be crowned Strictly champion. Carney summarised his emotional response to the possibility, stating: 'Strictly is much more than just dancing.'
As the nation tunes in for the final, Karen Carney's story stands as a powerful testament to the show's impact beyond mere entertainment, offering a profound journey of personal redemption and joy.
