Sunderland elite athlete joins Traitors star in inspiring short film

Published on 6, March, 2025

An elite athlete from the University of Sunderland has told the BBC she won’t let cerebral palsy hold her back.

Third-year Sports Coaching and Physical Education student Ellie O'Halloran has featured in a short film by BBC Morning Live where she and season three Traitors winner, Jake Brown, talk about how they are not letting cerebral palsy stop them from achieving their goals.

In the film, Ellie tells Jake: "Cerebral palsy hasn’t really affected me wanting to try, it has motivated me to try more and see what I can do."

Ellie is part of the University’s Elite Athlete Scheme which supports young sporting stars of the future. 

The 21-year-old competes in athletics, including discus and shot put, and she plays for the University’s women’s rugby team.

On being featured in the film, Ellie, from Sunderland, said: “Being able to have this opportunity was such an amazing experience and to share part of my story with everyone has been an unbelievable opportunity.

“I find it important to share my story with others because I want to inspire and encourage other people with hidden disability that achieving goals is possible and if you put your mind to it, you can do things that you may not have thought you can do.”

Watch the short film here: Morning Live - Series 6: 05/03/2025 - BBC iPlayer 

(Ellie features from 39.00)

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