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Golden girl Sam Quek has the potential to go all the way to the final of I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, according to her Holcombe team boss.
The Olympic hockey champion, one of four players from the Rochester club who were part of the triumphant Team GB in Rio, headed to Australia this week for the show, which starts on ITV tonight.
The 28-year-old will be on our screens from Sunday, joining the likes of TV presenter Carol Vorderman and former England footballer Wayne Bridge.
Sam hopes to be the campmate who can keep everyone’s morale up. She said: “I will try and initiate games for everyone to have fun. But at the same time, I will speak my mind if I do disagree with someone.”
Sam has admitted she is afraid of cockroaches, spiders and anything small but Holcombe boss Jon Rye thinks she will do great in the jungle.
The vice-chairman and director said: “She is a tough cookie. You can tell that from any of the girls’ Team GB performances. Some of the injuries they have overcome show true grit and determination.
“Sam is outgoing and she can handle herself. She will overcome the challenges and she will be good at getting on with people in a group environment like that.
“She will have a good following from the GB hockey community and anyone sports-minded is likely to follow the athletes.
“She has definitely got the mindset to get high in the rankings.”
Sam’s boyfriend, Tom Mairs, has posted a video online to encourage people to support her.
He said she was overwhelmed to be asked to take part in I’m a Celebrity because she “doesn’t consider herself a celebrity” but said she will do well because she is down to earth, a good laugh and a real team player.
Also hoping to win the public’s vote is former Strictly Come Dancing star Ola Jordan.
Husband and fellow dancer James, from Medway, has already been tweeting to get viewers to back her.
He posted: “I’m so excited to see my little Ola Chops. Please all support her, she’s honestly the sweetest person.”
Ola, who opened The Birth Place maternity suite at Medway hospital, says she is hoping to make people realise she is just a “normal girl”.
She added: “It’s a chance for me to go into camp with no big hair, make-up or skimpy dresses.
“I will give the trials a go if I’m asked of course, but I think anything with deep water will be really terrifying as I’m not a good swimmer.”
James is a regular on Twitter so he is sure to be keeping followers updated on his wife’s progress in camp.
I'm a Celebrity starts on ITV at 9pm tonight.