Greg Rutherford says he is enjoying Dancing On Ice training more than Strictly

The former British track and field athlete, 37, was a contestant on the BBC One dance programme in 2016 and is starring in the upcoming series of the ITV1 skating show, due to return on Sunday.

Comparing his experiences, the former Olympian said: “I was really crap at Strictly.

“So that’s the big thing.

“It’s amazing how much more you enjoy something when you feel a bit better at doing it…

“This feels more like a sport to me than Strictly ever did.

“And obviously, I’d never danced a step in my life before I went on to Strictly and it showed.

“And I think people maybe just felt sorry for me, and how I lasted til Blackpool I have no idea.

“But with this, I love every aspect of it.

“Everything about it feels more physical in the way that I understand – if that makes sense.

“I feel more in control of my body even though we’re on ice.”

He added: “This is probably more difficult from the point of view of the risk, the danger and everything else, but I can put my mind to it as I did with sport.

“Because this is sport basically and that for me sits so much better within my mind, my body.”

The former athlete went on: “It works a lot better for me, I feel much more comfortable doing it and I’m just enjoying it more.

“And that’s the big thing. Obviously Strictly is a great show as well but I enjoy this more.

“And I think, for me, I’ve not danced a step again since I finished that show.

“This one – I think I’ll skate for the rest of my life because I love it that much.”

Another contestant on the ITV1 programme is Love Island star Amber Davies who said she is a “completely different person” than when she was on the dating show.

Davies, 27, said: “When Dancing On Ice approached us, I thought, wow, I mean, it’s not like a show about personality, it’s about a skill…

“I was like, ‘You know what, let’s do it, let’s go for it.’

“And I thought it would be really lovely for the public to see me as who I am now, not who I was when I was 20 years old, and see how I’ve grown and become an adult.

“I’m a completely different person.”

British former professional boxer Ricky Hatton, another contestant on the show, said he initially wanted to give up as he found the training difficult.

He said: “I’d given up on it, to be honest.”

He added: “I could see I was miles behind everyone else.

“And I thought to myself, I’m not going to be able to do this and said to my manager, ‘Listen, maybe if I give them enough time, they can replace me, rather than me waste their time.’

“My manager said: ‘I’ve never known you give up anything in your life Rick.'”

He added: “I’m so glad I’ve done this, it’s been a real self-achievement.”

Other celebrity contestants include ski jumper and former Olympian Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards, S Club 7 singer Hannah Spearritt and actress Roxy Shahidi.

Dancing On Ice returns on Sunday at 6.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.