Former gymnastLouis Smithwelcomed hisdaughter Marley Valentina with partner Charlie Brucelast year, but the star has revealed life as a dad hasn't all been smooth-sailing.
Louis, 33, announced the happy news via an adorable Instagram post of the new family of three where he praised his partner with a heartfelt message.
He said: “What a 3 days it’s been. From Thursday night to Sunday morning. You women are incredible and the mother of my child is no exception. So glad both ladies are doing well and healthy. Marley Valentina Smith welcome.”
Now that the trio have had time to get used to life together, Louis spoke to OK! about life with a newborn and the “challenging” moments he and 32 year old Charlie have faced.
The Olympic medallist said life as a dad has been “absolutely amazing”, but added: “That's not to get confused with it's been easy, because it's been difficult. It's been challenging. Me and the girlfriend both found it hard.”
For Louis and Charlie, the hard times have been “made easier by the love and the dedication and motivation that comes from having a child”.
Gymnast Louis is a medal winner at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympics and while he’s supportive of one year old Marley doing anything she wants, he jokes: “I would probably encourage her to pick a sport, which is probably going to pay more money!”
The proud dad gushed: “She can do whatever she wants, and I will do my best to support her from start to finish.”
Louis also reflected on his incredible career as a gymnast that have seen him earn recognition for his pommel horse performances as one of the “amazing experiences” of his life.
“I’ve worked hard in my life, but I also am very lucky to have been able to experience the things that I have, having gone to three Olympic Games, starting with Beijing, at just 19 years old.”
Four years after his appearance at Beijing, Louis took part in the 2012 Olympics where he won a silver medal and he said that the performance was a moment where “it felt like all the stars aligned.”
He added: “Everything came down to this one moment and I was able to do the routine. That was a very special moment.”
That same year Louis took part in Strictly Come Dancing with partner Flavia Cacace, and the pair went on to win the series.
He recalls it being a “very full on year” but said his time on the dance floor was a great way to “pull down the tensions of the Olympics”.
Louis added: “I love the fact that Strictly opened up so many doors for me within the performing arts industry.”
His dancing experience took him all the way to theMasked Dancer, which he also won, and while he isn’t dancing as much now the star has turned his sights to property development.
“I've been learning carpentry, and been working with my best friend learning how to brick lay and do extensions and things like that. The idea is that we're going to keep getting properties and I do more and more of the work," he told us.
“I keep our renovation costs down because the more money we save, the more we can then pay the deposit for the next house.”
Louis explained that the idea was born in lockdown: “Lockdown came around and we were like, ‘Okay, I've got time on my hands, I can sit in front of a laptop and learn about all the different mortgage rates and all this and that’.
“If anything ever happens again, or if I break my leg or we've got multiple properties of income. And then if in 15 years time, Marley wants to go to university we could sell a house.”
He adds that currently he’s in a “happy place” and while now life is less about gymnastics he would advise his younger self to stay true to himself.
“If I could give advice to a younger me it would be: try not to live up to everyone's expectations so much.”
Louis Smith teamed up with Tu to help parents see why Tu’s uniform gets gold for durability at the ‘The Ultimate Playground Games.
With many families feeling the financial strain of the new school term, Tu is partnering with Family Action, a charity that provides support for disadvantaged families across the UK. Through the charity, Tu is giving away ten thousand pounds worth of vouchers for durable school uniform to help support those most in need in the cost-of-living crisis.
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