Former Olympic hockey player Sam Quek joins Strictly Come Dancing

Quek is the eighth celebrity contestant confirmed for the new series of the BBC One show

The former defender will be swapping her hockey stick for dancing shoes when she takes to the dancefloor later this year

Sam Quek has been confirmed as the eighth celebrity contestant for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing.

The former Olympic hockey player will be swapping her hockey stick for dancing shoes when she takes to the dancefloor later this year.

Quek, 30, is best known for winning a gold medal with Great Britain at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

She retired from hockey in 2018 and has since worked as a pundit for the BBC and ITV.

Quek said she is "excited and terrified" to be taking part in Strictly.

"I'm not a natural dancer, but I'm determined to give it my all and have some fun along the way," she said.

Quek is the eighth celebrity contestant confirmed for the new series of Strictly, joining the likes of David James, Catherine Tyldesley, and Mike Bushell.

The new series of Strictly Come Dancing will start on BBC One later this year.