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The Irish Sun
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Heartbreaking moment Ellie Simmonds wipes away tears as she talks to her birth mum about why she put her up for adoption
ELLIE Simmonds was seen wiping away tears as she bravely listened to her birth mum reveal why she was put up for adoption. The Paralympian gold medalist, 30, was Advertisement 6 Ellie Simmonds was seen wiping tears away while she talked to her birth mother on her new ITV doc Credit: ITV 6 Ellie was fostered at the age of three months after being put into care at two weeks old Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk 6 Ellie's adoptive parents Steve and Val Simmonds Credit: Business Live When Ellie was just three months old, she was adopted by West Midlands couple Val and Steve Simmonds. She only met her birth mother two years ago, after the swimmer documentary , Finding My Secret Family. In a follow to the Bafta winning doc, last night viewers watched At the end of the powerful documentary brave Ellie chatted to her birth mother - who has remained anonymous - on the phone. Advertisement READ MORE ON ELLIE SIMMONDS The Strictly Come Dancing star wanted to finally ask her why she gave her up for adoption. Before she made the phone call, Ellie said to the camera: "In the two years since we've met, I haven't felt ready to talk to my birth mum about the reasons she placed me up for adoption." Her birth mother was then heard for the first time on TV, as she didn't appear on the first documentary. She then bravely talked about the impact of having Ellie adopted, and the devastating reason why she felt she had to make that decision. Advertisement Most read in News TV Remaining off camera, she said: "It's really quite traumatic. It's hard for you to hear. I don't want to in any way upset you. "You're making a decision at the wrong time of your life, because you've just given birth, your hormones are all over the place. You're physically not right, you're mentally not right." Ellie Simmonds Finding My Secret Family viewers break down in tears as she meets her birth mum for the first time Ellie's birth mum then revealed how after her daughter was diagnosed with dwarfism, cruel medics at the time said this would lead to ridicule "I went to a geneticist and she was very abrupt," she recalled. Advertisement "She said, 'There you go, that's what your baby's going to look like.' "I remember coming back thinking, 'I don't know, I can't cope with this.' "It could have been explained in a nicer manner, because that was my life, you know, that was your life, that was us. "I mean, maybe there was no answers they could have given me, or maybe I wanted a magic wand." Advertisement As she recalled this story for the first time, Ellie could be seen wiping away tears. Her birth mum candidly revealed how she struggled to look beyond 6 Ellie bravely listened to her birth mother recalling her adoption story Credit: ITV "To give your biological child away… it was momentous," she explained. Advertisement "I just handed you over and that's something you really can never get over. "The guilt is horrendous. You live with it all the time." MEETING HER MUM Ellie met her birth mum for the first time at the end of her 2023 documentary. The reunion came after the Paralympian read an old letter handwritten by her mother in which she said she wished she'd had an abortion or that Ellie had died. Advertisement With a social worker acting as an intermediary, Ellie wrote to her mum explaining she wasn't angry and that she wanted to get to know her. She sobbed as she read her mum's reply in which she said she had suffered with "guilt and self-hatred". 6 She won two gold medals at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing Credit: PA Ellie then went to meet her mum for the first time - but this wasn't filmed. Advertisement Afterwards she said: "It was amazing. We spoke about everything over the last five hours. We've got the same sense of humour we were laughing so much. "I felt like her face was just like me. What touched my heart was that she thinks about me everyday and she always sees me as a daughter." 6 Ellie also took part in Strictly in 2022 Credit: PA 'AMAZING' LIFE Ellie maintains she has had an 'amazing life' and has never felt anger towards her biological mum. Advertisement She previously told us: 'I wouldn't be who I am today if my birth mother hadn't made that decision. "I could be someone so different and not have had such a positive life, being around people with different disabilities and going to the Paralympics and having all the opportunities my parents gave me.' Ellie's parents At 11, Ellie moved with Val to Swansea to train with Team GB. Advertisement Two years later she became the youngest British athlete at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, winning two swimming golds.
Scottish Sun
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Heartbreaking moment Ellie Simmonds wipes away tears as she talks to her birth mum about why she put her up for adoption
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ELLIE Simmonds was seen wiping away tears as she bravely listened to her birth mum reveal why she was put up for adoption. The Paralympian gold medalist, 30, was put into care at two weeks old after being diagnosed with dwarfism. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 6 Ellie Simmonds was seen wiping tears away while she talked to her birth mother on her new ITV doc Credit: ITV 6 Ellie was fostered at the age of three months after being put into care at two weeks old Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk 6 Ellie's adoptive parents Steve and Val Simmonds Credit: Business Live When Ellie was just three months old, she was adopted by West Midlands couple Val and Steve Simmonds. She only met her birth mother two years ago, after the swimmer explored her childhood in the 2023 documentary, Finding My Secret Family. In a follow to the Bafta winning doc, last night viewers watched Ellie Simmonds: Should I Have Children?. At the end of the powerful documentary brave Ellie chatted to her birth mother - who has remained anonymous - on the phone. The Strictly Come Dancing star wanted to finally ask her why she gave her up for adoption. Before she made the phone call, Ellie said to the camera: "In the two years since we've met, I haven't felt ready to talk to my birth mum about the reasons she placed me up for adoption." Her birth mother was then heard for the first time on TV, as she didn't appear on the first documentary. She then bravely talked about the impact of having Ellie adopted, and the devastating reason why she felt she had to make that decision. Remaining off camera, she said: "It's really quite traumatic. It's hard for you to hear. I don't want to in any way upset you. "You're making a decision at the wrong time of your life, because you've just given birth, your hormones are all over the place. You're physically not right, you're mentally not right." Ellie Simmonds Finding My Secret Family viewers break down in tears as she meets her birth mum for the first time Ellie's birth mum then revealed how after her daughter was diagnosed with dwarfism, cruel medics at the time said this would lead to ridicule "I went to a geneticist and she was very abrupt," she recalled. "She said, 'There you go, that's what your baby's going to look like.' "I remember coming back thinking, 'I don't know, I can't cope with this.' "It could have been explained in a nicer manner, because that was my life, you know, that was your life, that was us. "I mean, maybe there was no answers they could have given me, or maybe I wanted a magic wand." As she recalled this story for the first time, Ellie could be seen wiping away tears. Her birth mum candidly revealed how she struggled to look beyond Ellie's disability and said she "grieved" for the child she wanted her to be. 6 Ellie bravely listened to her birth mother recalling her adoption story Credit: ITV "To give your biological child away… it was momentous," she explained. "I just handed you over and that's something you really can never get over. "The guilt is horrendous. You live with it all the time." MEETING HER MUM Ellie met her birth mum for the first time at the end of her 2023 documentary. The reunion came after the Paralympian read an old letter handwritten by her mother in which she said she wished she'd had an abortion or that Ellie had died. With a social worker acting as an intermediary, Ellie wrote to her mum explaining she wasn't angry and that she wanted to get to know her. She sobbed as she read her mum's reply in which she said she had suffered with "guilt and self-hatred". 6 She won two gold medals at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing Credit: PA Ellie then went to meet her mum for the first time - but this wasn't filmed. Afterwards she said: "It was amazing. We spoke about everything over the last five hours. We've got the same sense of humour we were laughing so much. "I felt like her face was just like me. What touched my heart was that she thinks about me everyday and she always sees me as a daughter." 6 Ellie also took part in Strictly in 2022 Credit: PA 'AMAZING' LIFE Despite tearful moments in both documentaries, Ellie maintains she has had an 'amazing life' and has never felt anger towards her biological mum. She previously told us: 'I wouldn't be who I am today if my birth mother hadn't made that decision. "I could be someone so different and not have had such a positive life, being around people with different disabilities and going to the Paralympics and having all the opportunities my parents gave me.' Ellie's parents Val and Steve Simmonds adopted four other children, some of which also had disabilities. At 11, Ellie moved with Val to Swansea to train with Team GB. Two years later she became the youngest British athlete at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, winning two swimming golds.
The Sun
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Heartbreaking moment Ellie Simmonds wipes away tears as she talks to her birth mum about why she put her up for adoption
ELLIE Simmonds was seen wiping away tears as she bravely listened to her birth mum reveal why she was put up for adoption. The Paralympian gold medalist, 30, was put into care at two weeks old after being diagnosed with dwarfism. 6 6 6 When Ellie was just three months old, she was adopted by West Midlands couple Val and Steve Simmonds. She only met her birth mother two years ago, after the swimmer explored her childhood in the 2023 documentary, Finding My Secret Family. In a follow to the Bafta winning doc, last night viewers watched Ellie Simmonds: Should I Have Children?. At the end of the powerful documentary brave Ellie chatted to her birth mother - who has remained anonymous - on the phone. The Strictly Come Dancing star wanted to finally ask her why she gave her up for adoption. Before she made the phone call, Ellie said to the camera: "In the two years since we've met, I haven't felt ready to talk to my birth mum about the reasons she placed me up for adoption." Her birth mother was then heard for the first time on TV, as she didn't appear on the first documentary. She then bravely talked about the impact of having Ellie adopted, and the devastating reason why she felt she had to make that decision. Remaining off camera, she said: "It's really quite traumatic. It's hard for you to hear. I don't want to in any way upset you. "You're making a decision at the wrong time of your life, because you've just given birth, your hormones are all over the place. You're physically not right, you're mentally not right." Ellie Simmonds Finding My Secret Family viewers break down in tears as she meets her birth mum for the first time Ellie's birth mum then revealed how after her daughter was diagnosed with dwarfism, cruel medics at the time said this would lead to ridicule "I went to a geneticist and she was very abrupt," she recalled. "She said, 'There you go, that's what your baby's going to look like.' "I remember coming back thinking, 'I don't know, I can't cope with this.' "It could have been explained in a nicer manner, because that was my life, you know, that was your life, that was us. "I mean, maybe there was no answers they could have given me, or maybe I wanted a magic wand." As she recalled this story for the first time, Ellie could be seen wiping away tears. Her birth mum candidly revealed how she struggled to look beyond Ellie's disability and said she "grieved" for the child she wanted her to be. 6 "To give your biological child away… it was momentous," she explained. "I just handed you over and that's something you really can never get over. "The guilt is horrendous. You live with it all the time." MEETING HER MUM Ellie met her birth mum for the first time at the end of her 2023 documentary. The reunion came after the Paralympian read an old letter handwritten by her mother in which she said she wished she'd had an abortion or that Ellie had died. With a social worker acting as an intermediary, Ellie wrote to her mum explaining she wasn't angry and that she wanted to get to know her. She sobbed as she read her mum's reply in which she said she had suffered with "guilt and self-hatred". 6 Ellie then went to meet her mum for the first time - but this wasn't filmed. Afterwards she said: "It was amazing. We spoke about everything over the last five hours. We've got the same sense of humour we were laughing so much. "I felt like her face was just like me. What touched my heart was that she thinks about me everyday and she always sees me as a daughter." 'AMAZING' LIFE Despite tearful moments in both documentaries, Ellie maintains she has had an 'amazing life' and has never felt anger towards her biological mum. She previously told us: 'I wouldn't be who I am today if my birth mother hadn't made that decision. "I could be someone so different and not have had such a positive life, being around people with different disabilities and going to the Paralympics and having all the opportunities my parents gave me.' Ellie's parents Val and Steve Simmonds adopted four other children, some of which also had disabilities. At 11, Ellie moved with Val to Swansea to train with Team GB.
Wales Online
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Paralympian Ellie Simmonds opens up on feeling 'rejected' by birth mother over her disability
Paralympian Ellie Simmonds opens up on feeling 'rejected' by birth mother over her disability The Team GB swimmer from Swansea delves in to her adoption and whether or not she wants biological children in her new ITV documentary Ellie Simmonds with parents Megan and David with baby Cerys who was born with down's syndrome. (Image: ITV ) Former Team GB swimmer, Ellie Simmonds, has shared the heart-wrenching decision she's grappling with concerning whether to have children, confessing that she's "just not ready" for the emotional weight of the issue. The Paralympic champion was born in Derbyshire but grew up in Swansea from age 11 to make use of the region's excellent swimming facilities. Now 30, the five-time Paralympic gold winner, who hung up her goggles in 2021, is contemplating what life holds next. Ellie, who lives with achondroplasia, a common cause of dwarfism, finds herself at a crossroads about embarking on motherhood. She discussed the topic tonight, Tuesday, May 27, in her new ITV documentary, 'Ellie Simmonds: Should I Have Children?For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . During her personal journey, Ellie discovers a distressing truth regarding her potential future pregnancies. If she were to conceive with a partner who also has dwarfism, there is a 25% risk their child could inherit a fatal 'double dose' of the condition. Ellie reflects deeply on this information, commenting: "No parent should have to go through that. While I'm not at the stage of wanting a baby just yet, it's something I will have to consider." You can read more about Ellie's baby dilemma here. Article continues below She said: "Being a 30-year-old woman, this is the time people think about starting a family. But my situation is different because I live with a disability, so I understand what it's like to be a disabled person. When people find out they're having a disabled baby, do they worry that they won't be able to cope? Are they nervous? Do they want a picture-perfect baby?" The documentary delved deep into the difficulties faced by prospective parents who are informed their child could have disabilities. Ellie met with different families who have children with disabilities. This included Rosie and Lloyd who learned that their son Arlo was going to be born with dwarfism during a 28-week scan and Megan and David, whose daughter Cerys has Down's syndrome. In the programme, the swimmer examined the array of choices before her, ranging from using sperm donors or freezing her eggs to considering adoption. Ellie is one of five adopted siblings and was adopted just ten days after her birth mother placed her for adoption upon finding out that she was disabled. Reconnecting two years ago while participating in the documentary, 'Finding My Secret Family', it wasn't until the creation of her new candid documentary that Ellie felt ready to discuss such a delicate subject with her birth mother. In the documentary, Ellie reflected on her feelings of being "given up" and being "rejected" because of her disability by her birth mother. She said: "I want to know what it was like for her to decide to put me up for adoption. For her it was 30 years ago, but it's quite a sensitive, super emotional situation." Her birth mother, who chose to remain anonymous during the interview, poured out her heartache: "It's really quite traumatic. It's hard for you to hear. "I don't want to in any way upset you. You're making a decision at the wrong time of your life, because you've just given birth, your hormones are all over the place. You're physically not right, you're mentally not right." She opened up about the daunting obstacles she faced back then, recounting: "There was a lot in the background going on. I kept the pregnancy a secret, I gave birth on my own. I went to a geneticist and she was very abrupt. She said: 'There you go, that's what your baby is going to look like'. I remember thinking I can't cope with this. Maybe I wanted a magic wand." Delving deeper into her personal turmoil, she elaborated: "All I could see was your disability. You can make excuses, but I really did struggle. "I grieved the child that I thought you should have been. It was the biggest decision of my life. To give your biological child away... it was momentous. I just handed you over and that's something you really can never get over. The guilt is horrendous. You live with it all the time." British paralympic gold and bronze medalist Ellie Simmonds poses with her medals after returning from the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games in Brazil (Image: AFP via Getty Images ) Acknowledging her unwavering thoughts about her child, she expressed: "I didn't ever forget you. I thought about you every day. When I saw you at the Beijing Paralympics, I thought 'That's my Ellie'. I've been a number one fan. "I've watched everything you've done, I'm extremely proud. It's an amazing thing to have a child, there's no love like it. Fast forward 30 years and I realise what a fabulous woman you are. It's just that you were a bit shorter. You're a completely perfect person in every way." As Ellie listened, overcome with emotion and largely silent, her birth mother continued to speak. Ellie eventually mustered the courage to say: "We don't want to blame anyone, decisions are decisions. You're amazing". Yet, her birth mother responded with raw honesty: "I don't know Ellie, I think sometimes it was quite cowardly to be honest." Article continues below Reflecting on their heartfelt exchange, Ellie observed: "It seems that she held that guilt for a long time. That's really sad. We put a lot of pressure on the mum in society. It's amazing that she's so honest and open. I think people's fear of a disability is actually a fear of what's inside of them."
Edinburgh Live
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Strictly's Ellie Simmonds mum reveals heartbreaking reason she gave star up for adoption
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Strictly Come Dancing star Ellie Simmonds' birth mum heartbreakingly reveals the reason for giving her up in a starkly honest phone conversation, admitting: "All I could see is your disability". In a profound moment set to be aired on an ITV documentary this Tuesday, the ex-Paralympic swim star finds the bravery to contact her biological mother, which leads to a poignant exchange. Ellie, now 30, was relinquished for adoption by her birth mother merely ten days after birth upon discovering that Ellie had achondroplasia, a genetic type of dwarfism. Ellie recounts how her birth mum was brusquely given a leaflet by a medical professional, detailing misconceptions that children with her condition were often thought to possess lower intelligence and typically ended up working at circuses. Their paths crossed again merely two years ago while Ellie was filming the documentary Finding My Secret Family; however, it took time for Ellie to feel prepared to discuss her adoption with her mother. As she embarks on a new intimate documentary journey, Ellie Simmonds: Should I Have Children?, she delves into societal perceptions of raising children with disabilities and ponders over her own decision to have children. In a significant step, Ellie finds the strength to make the call, expressing: "I want to know what it was like for her to decide to put me up for adoption. For her it was 30-years-ago, but it's quite a sensitive, super emotional situation", reports the Mirror. (Image: AFP via Getty Images) Her birth mother, whose identity is concealed, told her: "It's really quite traumatic. It's hard for you to hear. I don't want to in any way upset you. You're making a decision at the wrong time of your life, because you've just given birth, your hormones are all over the place. You're physically not right, you're mentally not right. "There was a lot in the background going on. I kept the pregnancy a secret, I gave birth on my own. I went to a geneticist and she was very abrupt. She said, 'There you go, that's what your baby is going to look like'. I remember thinking I can't cope with this. Maybe I wanted a magic wand. "All I could see was your disability. You can make excuses, but I really did struggle. I grieved the child that I thought you should have been. It was the biggest decision of my life. To give your biological child away... it was momentous. I just handed you over and that's something you really can never get over. The guilt is horrendous. You live with it all the time." She added: "I didn't ever forget you. I thought about you every day. When I saw you at the Beijing Paralympics, I thought 'That's my Ellie'. I've been a number one fan. I've watched everything you've done, I'm extremely proud. It's an amazing thing to have a child, there's no love like it. Forward 30 years and I realise what a fabulous woman you are. It's just that you were a bit shorter. You're a completely perfect person in every way." (Image: ITV GRAB) Visibly overwhelmed, Ellie remains mostly quiet and tearful as she takes in her birth mother's words. Eventually, Ellie responds with: "We don't want to blame anyone, decisions are decisions. You're amazing", eliciting the reply: "I don't know Ellie, I think sometimes it was quite cowardly to be honest." Reflecting on the conversation later, Ellie muses: "It seems that she held that guilt for a long time. That's really sad. We put a lot of pressure on the mum in society. It's amazing that she's so honest and open. I think people's fear of a disability is actually a fear of what's inside of them." In the documentary, Ellie engages with doctors, geneticists, and frontline counsellors, and also converses with parents who have grappled with difficult choices upon learning their unborn child has a disability, pondering what her own decision would be. Ellie contemplates: "Being a 30-year-old woman, this is the time people think about starting a family. It's different because I'm living with a disability so I know what it's like to be a disabled person. "If you find out you've got a disabled baby, do people think they can't actually cope with it?"Are they nervous? Do they want a picture perfect baby?" Ellie Simmonds: Should I Have Children? is scheduled for Tuesday 27 May on ITV1 at 9pm.
