Strictly Come Dancing's Ellie Simmonds had a pretty good first weekend on the BBC One dancing competition, scoring 26 points with her professional partner, Nikita Kuzmin. The pair danced the Cha-Cha, with head judge Shirley praising her timing and courage for starting the routine on her own.
Fans of the paralympic swimmer, who spent much of her teenage years in Swansea, had to stick up for the athlete on social media after a minority of viewers commented that the dance was "awkward" to watch or suggested she might be given "sympathy votes".
Now the star has thanked those who are behind her in a sweet post on her Instagram in which she and Nikita don some cool sunglasses and give the rock hand gesture - Ellie even says she's looking forward to another week of training.
Read more: The lovely moment that shows why Ellie Simmonds appearing on Strictly Come Dancing is so important
"Thank you so much to everyone who's messaged and been so supportive, means the absolute world," she wrote. "Loving every single second of this Strictly journey. Thank you Nikita Kuzmin for being the best thing ever, his paitance [sic] and making this experience one to remember.."
The five-time Paralympic gold medallist spent much of her teenage years in Swansea after moving there from her hometown of Walsall.
As part of the launch show each celeb filmed an introduction video during which they met their professional dance partner, and Ellie's showed her in Wales. See more of that here.
She said: "Yes, I'm small, but I can do everything anyone else can", adding she was excited about her Strictly journey. Ellie and Nikita met up right after Ellie swam out of the lake and explained that the happiest days of her life were spent in Wales.
READ NEXT:
BBC Strictly viewers in disbelief over Kym Marsh's number of grandchildren
Gogglebox family The Malones return to show with new cast member
Married at First Sight UK teases 'secret crush' as Gemma grows suspicious over 'gut instinct'
BBC The One Show's Alex Jones' cheeky boyband remark to co-presenter
Ant and Dec confirm I'm A Celebrity details as they film 'worst kept secret' in South Africa
