Ellie Simmonds looks glam in a black frock with a thigh split

Ellie Simmonds looked glam as she attended the Sport Industry Awards on Thursday night. 

She donned a black frock with a thigh split for the event, sweeping her blonde locks into an up do.

The swimmer, who competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2022, opted for a neutral palette of makeup and small hoop earrings.

She complemented her ensemble with a pair of strappy black heels, a stylish addition to the outfit.

Ellie was all smiles as she prepared for the evening celebrating the work done in the sporting sector. 

Stylish: The swimmer opted for a neutral palette of makeup and small hoop earrings and was all smiles as she prepared for the evening celebrating the work done in the sporting sector

She joined a host of other sports stars and celebrities at Evolution London for the event.

Ellie is dating publicity-shy boyfriend Matt Dean, a childhood friend whose parents first introduced her to swimming when she was a toddler. 

Matt has stayed out of the spotlight even as Ellie’s profile has grown following her retirement from professional swimming in 2021.

The couple are understood to have known each other since childhood, after meeting through Matt’s parents, Penny and Arthur Dean, who are pioneers in sports for people with dwarfism and gave Ellie her start in the swimming pool. 

Love blossomed between Ellie and Matt ‘a couple of years’ ago but they have kept their relationship private.

After spending lockdown together in London and buying a house in South Manchester, Ellie made a rare reference to her love life in a documentary about dwarfism, which featured Matt’s mother Penny. 

Ellie – a five-time Paralympic gold medallist – has also mentioned him in a handful of interviews.

 Ellie, who was diagnosed with achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism, as a baby, grew up with average height parents who ensured she was surrounded by other people with dwarfism.

Love: Ellie is dating publicity-shy boyfriend Matt Dean, pictured, a childhood friend whose parents first introduced her to swimming when she was a toddler

This led the family to the Dwarf Sport Association UK, founded by Mr and Mrs Dean, which introduced Ellie to swimming at the age of two. 

The DSAuk, of which Ellie is now patron, is a sporting charity which aims to make sporting opportunities accessible and enjoyable to anyone and everyone of restricted growth in the UK.

 Her boyfriend’s mother was the first person to help Ellie onto a podium after a stunning performance in the pool as a toddler – and has remained an ‘important’ part of the athlete’s life as she ascended through the ranks, winning a total of 26 gold medals.

Pivotal:  Her boyfriend’s mother was the first person to help Ellie onto a podium after a stunning performance in the pool as a toddler