Anton Ferdinand is targeting skating glory in the popular BBC television series ‘Dancing on Ice’!
The former West Ham United defender and current Club Ambassador has been wowing with his partner, the one-time Czech national champion Annette Dytrt.
The pair have increased their weekly score every time they have skated, scoring 26.0 in Week 1, 30.0 in Week 3 and 34.0 in Week 4.
Week 5 will see them dance against the six other remaining couples, determined to impress judges Christopher Dean, Jayne Torvill, Ashley Banjo and Oti Mabuse and, of course, the voting British public!
As he prepares to pull on his skates again, Ferdinand spoke to whufc.com about the experience and his hopes of winning another title for the Hammers!
To vote for Anton during Sunday's show, which airs on ITV1 at 6.25pm, click HERE.
Anton, how are you enjoying the ‘Dancing on Ice’ experience so far?
“It’s been great! It’s something so different for me. I’m used to being on a football pitch, but this has been a refreshing challenge. The atmosphere, the people, it’s been a lot of fun. It’s probably the closest thing to feeling like I’m back playing again, I have missed that since retiring.
“I have also loved trying to fit the ‘Irons’ into every appearance on the show, I love showing support to my Club the same way they have supported me throughout this process.”
How have you found the skating? Have you ever done any before this?
“Learning to skate properly at first was so difficult! I’ve never really done it before, so it’s been a bit of a learning curve. But it’s been a good challenge – the balance, the speed, it’s all new to me. When playing football you are literally taught the opposite in terms of balance so having to rewire my brain has been a challenge.
“I am taking it one step at a time, but I’m getting there. It’s a bit like football in that sense, where you need a lot of practice to get the basics down.”
When were you more nervous - before playing in an FA Cup or Championship Play-Off final or before stepping onto the ice?
“I’d probably say before stepping onto the ice.
“When you’ve played in finals, you’ve been there before, and you know how to manage the nerves. Football has always been a part of me, so I didn’t really feel nerves.
“Skating is a skill I’m learning a lot later in life, so stepping onto the ice for the first time, not knowing what to expect, was a different kind of nerve-racking! It’s a new experience, and I didn’t want to make a fool of myself. But, once you get going, it’s all about enjoying the moment.”
Have you been surprised by the level of support you have had, not just from West Ham fans but from the public in general?
“The level of support has been overwhelming. I wasn’t sure what to expect coming into something new, but the energy has been so positive. It’s been great to see how much people appreciate the effort, even if we’re not experts at it right away.”
Can you win it?
“The competitor in me says ‘Why not?’ I think Annette and I make a solid team, and we’ve both been putting in the work. Obviously, it’s a tough challenge, but in sports, anything can happen. If we stay focused and keep improving, then yeah, why not!
“If the fan base continues to get behind myself and Annette, how they have been so far then I have no doubt I will get to the final.”
Who is your biggest rival?
“I think the competition is so tough, so it would be hard to narrow down one person as a rival, but I can tell you what makes a good rival and it’s probably the ones who push you the most. The ones who make you dig deeper and really test your skills. It’s all part of the fun though – that’s what makes the competition exciting!”