Dame Sarah Storey has voiced her disappointment that her time on Strictly Come Dancing was “shorter” than she had hoped following her elimination from the show.
After the judges unanimously voted to save Bethany, Dame Sarah shared a post on social media on Sunday evening, reflecting on her time in the iconic TV ballroom.
In a message addressed to her Strictly professional partner Julian Caillon, she wrote: “Thank you for being the best pro I could have ever wished for. You really are a wonderful and fabulous human and I so loved our time on the show.
“[It was] shorter than we wished for, [and] I will miss not learning a new dance with you tomorrow and trying to put all the tips and feedback into practice.”
Speaking to Emma Willis after her exit, Dame Sarah said: “I’ve obviously had the most amazing teacher [in Julian] which has just been the biggest blessing.
“Getting to learn different dances is something that I’ve never ever done, and never even thought I could do. So yeah, I’m really proud to have been able to have a few weeks learning from this incredible chap. I’ve really enjoyed every minute.”
Julian then told the cyclist and swimmer: “I’ve been saying since I met Sarah, once you get to know her, you really understand why she is the GOAT. She is so hard-working, she’s so dedicated, I’ve never seen such […] commitment and hard work to the process.
“She’s tough on herself because she expects the best. But that’s because she is the best. And I’ve been so impressed by your work ethic, I’ve had an absolute blast, and I’m so glad that you got to do that, because you are amazing. You can dance, and I need you to know that.”
“And we’ve got more time for cycling now!” Julian then joked, which Dame Sarah wrote in her Instagram post, noting: “Love your idea of a bike ride.”
Julian commented on the post: “So proud of you and how much you’ve grown as a dancer!!
“[I have] loved spending time together, having a boogie and can’t wait to get some more rides in.”
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday night at 6.30pm on BBC One.
