Gladiators Star Jodie Ounsley Speaks on Father's Tragic Passing
Jodie Ounsley, known as Fury on the BBC's Gladiators, has bravely opened up about the devastating loss of her father, Phil Ounsley, who died from a heart attack in November 2025 at the age of 56. The former West Yorkshire Police inspector was hiking on Pen-y-ghent in the Yorkshire Dales when he suffered a sudden cardiac event, leaving his family in shock.
A Father's Legacy and a Daughter's Grief
Phil Ounsley was not only a devoted parent but also an accomplished athlete, having won the World Coal Carrying Championship in 2007 and played rugby at Twickenham. Jodie, 25, describes him as her biggest supporter and training partner, sharing that they often practiced together, including tackling sessions in the garden just weeks before his death.
"I'm very up and down. Grief is so different for everyone," Jodie reveals, highlighting the complex emotions she faces as her career thrives while coping with profound sadness. "I'm happy, but feeling a deep sadness at the same time. They coexist, which is mind-blowing to me. I'm doing the things I love, but I miss Dad so much."
Continuing in His Honour Amidst Personal Struggle
Despite the tragedy occurring during rehearsals for the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special, Jodie chose to stay on the show, dancing a high-energy street commercial routine with professional partner Neil Jones. She lost to Gogglebox's Scarlett Moffatt but found solace in performing for her father, who had planned to attend.
"Two days later I went straight back into Strictly. My dad was due to be there on the night. Going out and doing it for him was the best thing I ever did," she says. To honour his memory, Jodie has tattooed an image of herself arm wrestling with Phil on her arm, based on a photo from their last training session.
Overcoming Barriers and Inspiring Others
Jodie, who is profoundly deaf and received a cochlear implant at 14 months old, has shattered stereotypes throughout her life. Doctors warned she should avoid contact sports, and teachers told her "girls don't play rugby," but she persevered, becoming the first deaf England women's rugby international and a Brazilian jiu-jitsu British Champion.
Her new book, Strong Girls, released on Thursday and co-written with Becky Grey, aims to empower young girls by sharing her story. "Social media puts a lot of pressure on young girls to feel like they have to look a certain way," Jodie notes, emphasising that strength and ability should be celebrated over appearance.
Sport as a Superpower for Young Girls
Reflecting on her role as Fury on Gladiators, Jodie hopes to inspire others, particularly those with disabilities. "It's nice my cochlear implant is in people's eyeline. People might think, 'That's Fury. She's got a cochlear implant'. Then, if they see someone with a hearing aid at school or something, they have that image in their head," she explains, stressing the importance of starting conversations about deafness.
She adds, "Sport's been my superpower – it can be theirs too," advocating for more encouragement of girls in sports at school. Jodie's father had even built Gladiators games in their garage when she was younger, and recently constructed wooden slabs in the garden for her to practice The Edge, showcasing their shared passion.
Jodie landed the Gladiators role after seeing an ad on Facebook, initially doubting her chances but applying on her father's suggestion. "Actually, we're being celebrated for being strong and for our different sporting backgrounds," she says, highlighting the show's focus on talent rather than looks.
As she navigates grief, Jodie finds comfort in exercise and talking about her loss, continuing to be a trailblazer for deaf athletes and young girls everywhere.
