Olympic swimmer Tom Dean split from his girlfriend Charlotte Phillips during his brief stint on Strictly Come Dancing.
The 24-year-old Team GB star, who was partnered with Ukrainian dancer Nadiya Bychkova, became the first celebrity to exit this year’s competition after losing to Toyah Willcox in week one.
The breakup occurred two weeks into the current series, adding personal heartbreak to his early departure from the BBC show.
Dean admitted to feeling “genuinely shocked” and “gutted” after receiving the fewest public votes and departing the show in its first week.
However, the Olympic swimmer was dealing with more than just his early Strictly exit, as he was also privately coping with his split from communications executive Charlotte Phillips.
Sources close to the London-born athlete revealed to MailOnline that the relationship had been struggling for some time before the breakup.
Tom Dean was going through the break up just two weeks into his stint
An insider close to the couple emphasised that the split was unrelated to Dean’s Strictly partnership withBychkova, 35, who herself split from fellow professional Kai Widdrington last July.
“Like in so many breakups, Tom and Lottie’s year-long relationship had naturally run its course and it has nothing to do with Strictly.
“They are still good friends and it’s all amicable between them.”
Dean last shared a photo with Phillips on Instagram in August, showing the couple snuggled together.
Tom Dean and Nadiya Bychkova were the first couple to be eliminated from the series
The swimmer had regularly posted about their relationship, including holidays and a welcome home party following the Paris Olympics.
Since joining Strictly, Dean has maintained a professional relationship with Bychkova, attending October’s Pride of Britain Awards and a recent lunch at The Waterside Inn.
On social media, Dean commented on their lunch outing: “What an afternoon. Best food and best company.”
Dean reached the final of the men’s 200m individual medley at the Paris Olympics and was part of the gold-medal winning 4x200m freestyle team.
Three years earlier, he claimed two golds at the Tokyo Games in the 200m freestyle and men’s 4x200m freestyle events.
The three-time Olympic gold medallist was awarded an MBE in the 2022 New Year’s Honours for his services to swimming.
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When speaking to Tess Daly about his time on the show shortly after his elimination, he said: “I’ve had the best time the last few weeks and getting to work with Nadiya has been incredible. I wish I could have gone further and done more dances.
“I’ve had the most fun and I wish we could keep going longer and longer. We’ll still go out for loads of brunches I’m sure.”