TV presenter Matt Baker has revealed that his childhood dream of competing in the Olympics was cut short after he was diagnosed with anaemia at the age of 13. The 48-year-old, known for presenting Countryfile and The One Show, was a promising gymnast who had won a North of England title and aspired to reach the highest level.
Baker told Wiltshire Farm Foods: '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.'
Iron deficiency anaemia, caused by a lack of iron, leads to symptoms such as tiredness, shortness of breath, and pale skin. Baker recalled feeling 'really upset' when he learned he would have to quit gymnastics, saying he 'lost his identity'. However, he redirected his athletic talents, becoming a North of England pole-vaulting champion and competing in sports acrobatics.
Baker later found a way to stay connected to the Olympics by carrying the torch through his native County Durham for the London 2012 Games, an experience he described as 'a real lump in your throat kind of experience'. He still treasures the torch as a prized possession. He has also combined his passions by working as a gymnastics commentator for the Olympic Games, including the Paris 2024 event.
In addition to his past health struggles, Baker has faced other physical challenges. He revealed on Gabby Logan's Mid Point podcast that he slipped a disc in his back while performing in pantomime, causing 'absolute agony'. The injury required nerve block injections for pain relief, and he admitted he can no longer perform backflips, saying: 'I can't tell you how upsetting it is as an ex-gymnast, not to be able to bend forward.'
