Strictly Come Dancing: Louis Smith crowned best athlete to appear on show

As anticipation builds for the upcoming season of Strictly Come Dancing, new research from William Hill Vegas has offered an intriguing insight into the success of former sports stars to have previously appeared in the ballroom, setting the bar for the likes of Paul Merson and Sam Quek in next month’s new series.

The study, which examined the performances and previous scores awarded to all 59 sportspeople who have graced the Strictly dance floor since the show’s inception in 2004, revealed that former GB Olympian Louis Smith holds the record for the highest number of points awarded in a single series when he accumulated an astonishing 638 points from the judges en route to winning the Glitterball Trophy in 2012:

Smith’s point tally is made even more remarkable when comparing it to other former athletes to have tasted success in the ballroom. Delving further into the data, former British tennis star Annabel Croft, who occupies second place in the top eight, recorded 90 fewer points than Smith during her run to the final four in last year’s series (548), while Olympic gymnast Claudia Fragapane, who dazzled in Season 14, is the only other name on the list to break the 500-point mark.

The analysis also points out that the show has a rich history of sporting talent making it far into the competition. Cricketer Darren Gough and England rugby union player Matt Dawson both found success in earlier seasons, with Gough winning in Season 3 and Dawson finishing as runner-up in Season 4. However, neither came close to Smith’s record-breaking score, with Gough accumulating 406 points and Dawson earning 456.

With a quartet of former athletes set to take to the ballroom in next month’s new series – namely Paul Merson (40/1), Sam Quek (5/1), Tom Dean (12/1) and Montell Douglas (14/1) – the UK public will see whether anyone can surpass Smith’s long-standing record.

William Hill Vegas spokesperson, Lee Phelps, commented: “Louis Smith’s winning performance in 2012 remains one of the standout moments in the history of Strictly Come Dancing, though our research underscores the former Team GB gymnast’s achievement to a greater extent.

“Smith’s incredible total point tally of 638 is a testament to his dedication, athleticism, and natural flair for dance, while it’s fascinating to see how sports stars – who are often outside their comfort zones on the dance floor – have consistently risen to the challenge and delivered some of the most memorable performances. With this data in mind, it’s clear that while sporting prowess can provide a physical advantage, Louis Smith’s achievement remains truly exceptional.

“Ahead of next month’s new series, will we see another athlete rise to the occasion and challenge Smith’s record, or does his performance remain in a league of its own? Only time will tell.”