Matt Baker, the BBC presenter known for Countryfile and The One Show, has spoken about the heartbreaking decision to end his gymnastics career after being diagnosed with anaemia at the age of 13.
The 48-year-old, who is currently the BBC's lead commentator at the World Gymnastics Championships, once dreamed of representing Great Britain at the Olympics before the condition forced him to step away from the sport.
A Dream Cut Short
Baker began training in gymnastics at the age of five and progressed quickly, winning a North of England title and scoring a perfect 10 from the British Amateur Gymnastics Association. However, his ambitions were derailed when he was diagnosed with anaemia.
Speaking to Wiltshire Farm Foods, Baker recalled: "Ever since I was a little lad, it was my dream to be part of the Olympics. But I ended up having to stop my gymnastics in my mid-teens because I got anaemia. It meant I just couldn't train to the level that was needed, so I made the heartbreaking decision to stop."
He previously told The Telegraph that the diagnosis left him "really upset" and affected his sense of identity. "I'd lost my identity in a way. But then I just committed to something else: I went off and became a North of England pole-vaulting champion and did sports acrobatics," he said.
A New Path in Broadcasting
Baker's love for gymnastics remained, and he became an established voice on the BBC's coverage of the sport, including at the Olympic Games, European Championships, and Commonwealth Games. He acknowledged the surprise some viewers express about his role.
Speaking to TV Times, via The Mirror, Baker said: "It makes me laugh when people ask, 'Why is the guy from Countryfile commentating on gymnastics?!' But yes, I love the eclectic mix of things that I do and have done."
He previously told the BBC: "Gymnastics was kind of a natural fit. I used to bounce around all over the place. I'd be climbing trees and grappling up anything. It just clicked with me. It was something that I loved, and I didn't have to think about whether or not I wanted to go."
Carrying the Torch
Although his Olympic dream as an athlete never materialised, Baker became part of the BBC's Olympic coverage. He described carrying the Olympic torch through his home city in County Durham during the London 2012 Games as a "real lump in your throat kind of experience" and noted that he still keeps the torch as a "prized possession."
In 2021, Baker shared old newspaper cuttings from his sporting days on Instagram, reflecting on the lasting influence of gymnastics. He wrote: "For all those asking... here's some clippings from my old scrap book! As a lad gymnastics was my life. . .it taught me the simple recipe if you work hard you get a result. Without my sport I would never be where I am today... #gymnastics #workhard."
