Steve Backley

Dancing On Ice - Steve Backley celebrates sport history

25 January 2008 - Ice dancer Steve Backley has reason to celebrate today, as it is the anniversary of one of his record-setting javelin throws.

Steve - who has been crowned European champion four times over and was awarded medals at three consecutive Olympic games - became the first man to throw the modified javelin a distance of 91 metres at a meeting in Auckland, New Zealand on this day in 1992, the Daily Mail reported.

However, Steve may be less confident on the ice rink than he is on the field.

"Being a complete novice, being six foot five and 16 stone does not do me any favours on Dancing On Ice," he told ITV, adding that sometimes he feels like a fish out of water among the other skaters.

He named fellow athlete and tennis champ Greg Rusedski and Hollyoaks actor Chris Fountain as his biggest threats on the ice.

"Chris and Greg are better skaters than me," he said.

According to the Sun, Greg decided to wax his chest before the first night of competition to keep hair from spilling out from his glittering ice dance costume.

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