Sh0cking Truth Revealed: Ellie Simmonds faces fear of passing on dwarfism

Ellie Simmonds left viewers ‘broken-hearted’ with her emotional documentary on Tuesday, as she broke down in tears during a moving conversation with her birth mother.

In the film, titled Should I Have Children?, the Paralympian explores her fears around becoming a parent, and what it would mean if she were to have a child who inherits the genes for dwarfism.

Whilst on this journey of whether or not to become a mother, Ellie decided to contact her birth mother, and ask her why she decided to give her up for adoption.

Ellie’s mother, whose identity has been protected by the swimmer, shared the abrupt way her condition was first revealed.

She said: ‘We went to a geneticist and she was very abrupt, said ”There you go, that’s what your baby is going to look like.” I remember coming back thinking, I can’t cope with this.’

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Ellie Simmonds left viewers ‘broken-hearted’ with her emotional documentary on Tuesday, as she broke down in tears during a moving conversation with her birth mother

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In the film, titled Should I Have Children, the Paralympian explores her fears around becoming a parent (pictured during her childhood in the programme)

Detailing the turmoil she suffered while giving birth to her daughter, Ellie’s mother added: ‘You’re physically not right, you’re mentally not right, it’s a hard time to make a decision about anything.

‘There was a lot in the background going on. I’d given birth on my own.’

Ellie’s mother then shared that her daughter’s disability became ‘all she should see,’ and said: ‘I grieved the child that I thought you should have been. It was absolutely horrendous. I left you and you were my baby. I just handed you over.’

Breaking down in tears on the phone, she confessed: ‘You really could never get over the guilt. The guilt was horrendous. So you live with it all the time.

‘It’s something that you’ll have that you’ll never forget. I thought about you every day. I think sometimes it was quite cowardly, to be honest.’

While Ellie was noticeably quiet during the exchange, she could be seen wiping away tears during the call.

The entire conversation left many viewers moved, with some praising Ellie for her work on the show.

Posts on X included: ‘This documentary is breaking me! @EllieSimmonds1 is so brave to speak out, and find out how things have changed.

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Whilst on this journey of whether or not to become a mother, Ellie decided to contact her birth mother, and ask her why she decided to give her up for adoption

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View gallery

Ellie’s mother, whose identity has been protected by the swimmer, admitted her daughter’s disability was ‘all she could see’

The conversation left many viewers moved, with some praising Ellie for her work on the emotional documentary

‘Such an inspirational woman, who has achieved so much – ‘there is ability in every disability’ Having a year 3 class at our school named after you is a privilege;’

‘There are so many superlatives I could use to describe #EllieSimonds. She is such a beautiful soul, both inside and out. Her documentary is so informative and poignant. #ShouldIHaveChildren;’

‘I LOVE @EllieSimmonds1! What a woman ����❤️ your documentary is something to be incredibly proud of, as is all of your work for people with disabilities #ShouldIHaveChildren;’

‘Ellie Simmonds is breaking my heart #elliesimmonds;’

‘#ShouldIHaveChildren amazing documentary well done #elliesimmonds �� so informative.’

Following the call, Ellie seemed overcome with emotion, but later reflected on the exchange in a voiceover.

She said: ‘It seems like she held that guilt for a long time. That’s sad isn’t it? We put a lot of pressure on the mum in society.

‘It’s amazing that she’s so honest and open talking about what she went through.’

Ellie was adopted by Steve and Val Simmonds when she was three months old, and grew up with four older siblings.