Former England footballer Karen Carney has opened up about how her triumphant run on Strictly Come Dancing fundamentally 'rebuilt' her, following years of feeling 'crushed' by the abuse she faced as a sports pundit.
From Pitch to Dance Floor: A Historic Victory
The 38-year-old Lioness made television history on Saturday, becoming the first footballer ever to win the Strictly Come Dancing glitterball trophy. She and her professional partner, Carlos Gu, were crowned champions in a live final, capping off an emotional journey for the retired athlete.
Prior to her Strictly debut, Carney had established herself as a respected pundit, commentating on Premier League matches for TNT Sports and major tournaments like the World Cup and Euros for ITV. However, this role came with a torrent of vile online trolling and criticism, which she says wore down her confidence over five or six years.
A Journey of Positive Reinforcement
In a candid interview with The Telegraph, Carney described the profound impact of the constant negativity. "Entering the pundit space has crushed me over the last five or six years," she confessed. She reflected on a lifetime of being told "You shouldn't", "You can't", and "You won't", a pattern that continued into her broadcasting career.
The turning point came after the very first live show. "After that jive in the very first week, I got positive reinforcement for what felt like the first time in 30 years. And I just couldn't cope with it," she revealed. This marked the beginning of her confidence being restored through the show's supportive environment.
Her path to victory wasn't straightforward. After topping the leaderboard in week one, she and Carlos faced challenges in subsequent weeks. Their fortunes dramatically changed with a powerful, Peaky Blinders-themed Argentine Tango performed on Halloween week, setting them on course for the final win.
A Speechless Champion and a Royal Tribute
When hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced their names as winners, Carney was left speechless, embracing Carlos in disbelief. "I cannot believe it," she said on air. "I just wanna say thank you to everybody that's supported our journey... and thank you to this wonderful gentleman. We are a team."
The emotional final also featured a surprise tribute to the departing hosts. Judge Craig Revel Horwood read a special letter from Her Majesty Queen Camilla, who praised Tess and Claudia's "warmth, compassion, and sheer happiness" as being central to the show's success.
Following her win, Carney took to Instagram, trophy in hand with Carlos, to thank fans. "Hi everybody! We did it!" she exclaimed. "We can't believe it, but we just want to say thank you so, so much for all your support, all your votes, all your kind words, it means everything."
Carney's story highlights not just a dance competition victory, but a powerful personal resurgence, proving Strictly Come Dancing to be a catalyst for healing and renewed self-belief.
