Team GB star Tom Dean has become the latest victim of the Strictly curse after splitting from his long-term girlfriend, MailOnline can reveal.
The Olympic swimmer, 24, secretly ended his relationship with communications exec Charlotte Phillips two weeks into the current series, in which he was linked to Ukrainian dancer Nadiya Bychkova.
Tom became the first celebrity to leave Strictly this year after losing his place in the competition to Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones, who were voted out the following week.
He admitted he felt “genuinely shocked” and “gutted” after receiving the fewest votes from the public in week one and leaving the show.
But it wasn’t just disappointment that he became Strictly’s first ballroom victim, as Tom was secretly heartbroken after his split from Lottie.
Sources close to London-born Tom told MailOnline that the relationship had been on the rocks for some time as the pair ‘drifted apart’ and insist that Nadiya, 35, who split from fellow pro Kai Widdrington last July, is 29 , was not a factor .
The dance partners have attended several events together, including last month’s Pride of Britain Awards as part of their Strictly commitments.
An insider revealed: ‘As with many breakups, Tom and Lottie’s long-standing relationship had of course run its course and it has nothing to do with Strictly, it just happened to be in the first two weeks that they decided to split. They’re still good friends and it’s all amicable between them.”
Team GB star Tom Dean has become the latest victim of the Strictly curse after splitting from his long-term girlfriend, MailOnline can reveal
The Olympic swimmer secretly ended his relationship with communications manager Charlotte Phillips (pictured) two weeks into the current series
Tom, who teamed up with professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova, became the first celebrity to leave Strictly this year after losing his place in the competition to Toyah Willcox
Sources close to Tom revealed the romance had been on the rocks for some time as the pair ‘drifted apart’ and insisted Nadiya, who split from Kai Widdrington last July, was not a factor
The Olympian last posted a photo of Lottie on Instagram in August, where they were snuggled up together in an office elevator.
He regularly shared insights into the couple’s relationship online, such as holidays they shared together and a photo of his welcome party after the Paris Olympics, starring Lottie.
But the director has been absent from his Instagram for months as Tom continued to post about his Strictly coupling with Nadiya.
They attended the Pride of Britain Awards in October and enjoyed a lunch event together at The Waterside Inn last week, where a host of chefs cooked ‘incredible food’ for them.
Tom commented on a post Nadiya shared about the couple: ‘What an afternoon. Best food and best company.’
The three-time Olympic gold medalist was Nadiya’s first Strictly partner in a year after she made her first celebrity appearance in 2023.
She was linked to singer Matt Goss in 2022 and the year before she starred alongside former BBC Breakfast Show presenter Dan Walker, with whom she remains close friends.
Nadiya, who was previously engaged to Slovenian footballer Matija Skarabot, split from fellow professional dancer Kai in July.
MailOnline has contacted Tom’s representative for comment.
Tom regularly shared insights into the couple’s relationship online, including holidays they shared together and a photo of his welcome party after the Paris Olympics, starring Lottie.
The three-time Olympic gold medalist was Nadiya’s first Strictly partner in a year after she was denied celebrity status for the first time in 2023
Tom and Nadiya attended the Pride of Britain Awards in October and enjoyed a lunch event together at The Waterside Inn last week, where a host of chefs cooked ‘incredible food’ for them.
Tom reached the final of the men’s 200m individual medley at the Paris Olympics and was part of the gold medal-winning team in the men’s 4x200m freestyle
He was awarded an MBE in the 2022 New Years Honors for services to swimming
The world champion dancer is reportedly leading a string of Strictly professionals at risk of being axed from the series.
According to reports, bosses are keen to give the show a ‘huge shake-up’, starting with the professional dancers at the heart of the programme.
It follows a year of scandal surrounding the dancing competition after Graziano Di Prima was sacked over his poor treatment of celebrity partner Zara McDermott.
Tom’s volatile appearance on Strictly will have come as a shock to him as he usually excels in a competitive environment.
He reached the final of the men’s 200 meter individual medley at the Paris Olympics and was part of the winning team in the men’s 4×200 meter freestyle.
Three years earlier, he won gold in the 200-meter freestyle and the men’s 4×200-meter freestyle at the Tokyo Games.
Tom was awarded an MBE in the 2022 New Years Honors for his services to swimming.