Rugby Star Kildunne Shares Battle to Help Others Heal

Rugby superstar Ellie Kildunne scored a stunning try in front of 82,000 fans at the World Cup final last year, but behind that triumph was a battle she fought alone.

The 26-year-old England player is now sharing her story about body dysmorphia and disordered eating during the coronavirus lockdown. Her goal is simple: help others who might be struggling in silence.

"It's time for me to speak up to give other people the courage," Kildunne told BBC Sport. The courage she's showing now is the same that made her a World Cup champion.

During lockdown, Kildunne was training for the Olympics when everything stopped. Without her team, gym access, or clear goals, she turned her competitive drive inward in destructive ways.

She started skipping meals while running obsessively, chasing faster times and smaller numbers on the scale. Before visiting friends for dinner, she'd run extra miles to "earn" the food they'd serve.

"I could see myself getting smaller, but then was still trying to chase being smaller on top of that," she explained. Body dysmorphia distorted her mirror image even as her body weakened.

The consequences hit hard when rugby resumed. She suffered a stress fracture in her knee from losing protective muscle mass.

In the gym, her limbs shook involuntarily during lifts because she had no energy. On the field, she lost the ball repeatedly and lacked confidence in tackles, resorting to wearing shoulder pads to feel stronger.

The turning point came during a routine physio session at her former club Wasps. Emily Ross, who knew Kildunne well, asked one extra question: was she OK in other areas of her life?

"I broke down in tears, probably because I'd been waiting for someone to say that," Kildunne recalled. Speaking the truth out loud created accountability and opened the door to healing.

Kildunne was diagnosed with ADHD in early 2025, which helped explain some patterns. She now works with team nutritionists and uses strategies like eating without distractions to maintain a healthier relationship with food.

Why This Inspires

Kildunne joins other rugby players like U.S. star Ilona Maher and England's Sarah Bern in breaking the silence around body image struggles in sports. Their honesty is creating space for difficult conversations athletes desperately need.

Female athletes face unique pressures, often judged both by sport performance standards and societal beauty ideals. By speaking openly, these players are showing others they're not alone in the struggle.

Kildunne's teammate Sarah Bern says she's "totally blown away" by Kildunne's courage. That ripple of support shows how vulnerability creates connection and healing.

Kildunne acknowledges the journey continues: "It's something you've always got to be conscious of, because I've got those habits somewhere." Her honesty about ongoing work makes her message even more powerful.

The World Cup champion who thrilled thousands is now helping countless others by sharing the victory that mattered most: choosing to ask for help and heal.