EXCLUSIVE: Ellie Simmonds talks David Beckham, Daniel Sturridge and working with kids
SHE'S a four-time gold medal winning British Paralympian who can boast of being friends with David Beckham and Daniel Sturridge but Ellie Simmonds is wonderfully humble.
The 20-year-old swimmer has opened up about being a celebrity since her world record setting 400m freestyle at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London.
Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Ellie said: "I don't feel like I'm a celebrity - I don't think about it at all. Because I go to college, and normal things, it's just normal.
"Sometimes I get recognised but I don't feel any different to how I was when I was younger - or different to ordinary people on the street."
Working alongside Sainsbury’s as an Active Kids ambassador, Ellie and a troupe of world-class sportsmen and women travel the length and breadth of the country talking about sports.
Ellie said: "I'm not the only Kids Ambassador - we've got Daniel Sturridge the Liverpool footballer and paralympian Jonnie Peacock.
"When we go to events, especially Daniel, he's so high profile. But he's an ordinary lad."
She added: "David Beckham was working at one of the events, he was just an ordinary person - just normal people made famous."
I did hang out with [David]. He was really cool, he was lovely. Really nice. We were just chatting away normally."
It's not the first time Ellie's encourages Britain's children to give up the junk food and get moving, in fact she's a dab hand at it now.
Despite only being 20, the swimmer revealed she's been doing the job for over six years.
She said: "Each year I really enjoy working with Sainsbury's and I love working with kids.
"I go to visit schools and we do PE and cook with the kids. And then we play Sainsbury's School Games which happens regionally and nationally."
She added: "Being hands on and doing interviews, and photoshoots, is just a great opportunity. I'm just a swimmer so having the opportunity to work with Sainsbury's means I get to do a wide variety of stuff."
Ellie Simmonds is a Sainsbury’s Active Kids ambassador, encouraging children to lead healthier lifestyles by eating well and getting active.
Active Kids vouchers are available to collect in Sainsbury’s stores and online until 5th May. Schools and other organisations can then exchange vouchers for a wide range of sports and cooking equipment and experiences. Visit https://activekids.sainsburys.co.uk/ for more details