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Be it in the swimming pool or on the stage, former Paralympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds has what it takes to be a winner.
Born Eleanor May Simmonds and better known as Britain's very own champion "Ellie" Simmonds, the swimmer left the pool behind and is now part of the roster of the 20th edition of Strictly Come Dancing.
On the show, Ellie and her dance partner Nikita Kuzmin have racked up success after success every Sunday night.
The Guinness World Records 2023 Hall of Fame inductee and multi-record holder has quickly earned the respect of the judges and the love of the public, offering solid performances and extraordinary routines in every episode.
The British athlete called time on her Paralympic career in 2021, but is surely no stranger to medals and success.
During her career (but also out of the pool) she became a pioneer and an inspiration for values that span far wider than the world of competitive swimming.
But just how many records does Ellie Simmonds have, exactly?
The 27-year-old has no less than 10 World Championship titles and is known for her motto "work hard, be yourself".
Ellie's debut took place in 2008 at the Summer Paralympics in Beijing.
She was on top on practically every scoreboard after that, breaking several records and inspiring the general public with her lovable attitude, continuous dedication and jaw-dropping athletic skills.
She achieved her first Guinness World Records title in 2009.
A year after her debut she broke the record for the fastest swim short course 200 m freestyle - S6 with the timing of 2 minutes and 44.21 seconds, the fastest ever achieved by a female para swimmer.
Together with the many wins at Beijing, that success kickstarted a promising career and confirmed that the young athlete was going to be no stranger to accolades and records.
Ellie has achondroplasia, which is a genetic mutation that can be passed from parent to child or develop spontaneously in the child.
This impairs a specific protein called fibroblast growth factor receptor, causing shorter bones and stature.
It's considered the most common form of skeletal dysplasia, as well as the main cause of dwarfism in the UK.
Due to her achondroplasia, Ellie used to swim in the S6 category and underwent surgery when she was only 12, with four metal plates implanted in her legs.
However, as she proved recently on the stage of Strictly, her talents lie in many sports and she is capable of mesmerizing the audience in and out of the water.
Ellie has also recently starred in a documentary, Ellie Simmonds: A World Without Dwarfism?, that explores the different takes on "a controversial new drug that promises to help children with dwarfism grow closer to average height".
Although the drug has been approved and is free to be used in the US, in Britain selected families are still testing it.
As she declared during an interview with This Morning, Ellie wanted to know more about the drug and get involved, "learning about the families and their big decision to go on it."
Thanks to a positive mentality and relentless efforts, Ellie has truly made the most of her athletic capabilities.
We are honored to welcome her in our Hall of Fame 2023, celebrating the sports accomplishments she collected through the years while also becoming a presenter, a public figure, and continuously raising awareness on dwarfism and achondroplasia.
How many records, world titles and medals did Ellie Simmonds assemble during her career?
Read more in our Guinness World Records 2023 Hall of Fame.