Harry Aikines-Aryeetey: Age, Height, Injury & Strictly

Age: 36 (born 29 August 1988) ·
Height: 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) ·
100m Personal Best: 10.10 s ·
Olympic Appearances: 2 (2012, 2016) ·
Gladiator Name: Nitro ·
Strictly Come Dancing: Contestant in 2025 series

Eight verified facts about Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, one pattern: every number in his career profile tells a story of elite performance punctuated by injury comebacks.

Is Harry Aikines married?

Relationship status: confirmed or unconfirmed?

• Harry Aikines-Aryeetey has not publicly confirmed a spouse or partner, according to Wikipedia.
• No official marriage records or announcements have been found in reliable sources.
• Speculation about his relationship status remains unverified by any tier-1 or tier-2 outlet.

Who is Harry Aikines-Aryeetey’s partner?

No named partner has been identified in any credible media report. While some social media speculation exists, neither BBC Newsround nor the BBC Media Centre have published details about a romantic relationship. The sprinter keeps his personal life private, and no representative has issued a statement.

Is Nitro in a relationship?

As of 2025, there is no confirmed information about whether the Gladiator star is dating or single. The pattern: Harry’s public-facing content focuses on his athletic career, his return from injury, and his television work — not his private life.

The implication: For now, the question “Is Nitro from Gladiators married?” has no answer in the public record. Any claims to the contrary are unsubstantiated.

How tall is Harry Aikines-Aryeetey?

Official height from athletic profiles

• Listed height on BBC Media Centre and Wikipedia is 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in).
• Same height reported across multiple reliable sources including the Power of 10 athletics database.

At 1.83 m, Harry stands a shade taller than the average elite male sprinter, who typically measures around 1.80 m. His height gives him a slight stride-length advantage without sacrificing the explosive start that defined his junior career. For context, that puts him in the same height bracket as Usain Bolt’s training partner Yohan Blake (1.80 m) and just below Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs (1.85 m).

What this means: When you see Nitro racing across the Gladiators arena, you’re watching a 6-foot frame that was built for speed — and the numbers back it up.

What injury did Harry from Strictly Come Dancing get?

Nature of the injury

• Harry suffered a knee injury during training for series 2 of Gladiators, not during Strictly rehearsals, according to BBC Newsround.
• Later reports from the Daily Mirror said he underwent surgery after rupturing his kneecap.
• The injury was described as an “unexpected knee injury” that forced him to “shift gears” and sit out events in that series (BBC Newsround).

Impact on his Strictly performance

Harry appeared on the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special in 2024 with professional dancer Nancy Xu, as reported by BBC Newsround. Despite the knee injury that had left him in bed for six weeks, according to the Daily Mirror, he returned to the dance floor. The BBC then announced on 11 August 2025 that he was the first celebrity confirmed for the full Strictly series (BBC Media Centre).

Recovery timeline

• Injury occurred during Gladiators series 2 training (exact date not publicly specified).
• Surgery followed the ruptured kneecat, per Daily Mirror reports.
• Six weeks of bed rest during recovery.
• Returned to physical performance in time for the Strictly Christmas special in 2024.
• Confirmed fit for the full 2025 Strictly series (BBC Media Centre).

The pattern: This is not Harry’s first injury comeback. He missed the 2007 season with a back injury after becoming world junior champion in 2006, according to Power of 10, and injury also prevented him from competing in the 2010 European Championships and Commonwealth Games trials. The pattern is clear: setbacks, surgery, return.

How fast can Nitro run 100m?

Personal best 100m time

• Personal best: 10.10 seconds (wind-assisted 10.05), according to Power of 10.
• Represented Great Britain in the 4x100m relay and individual events at two Olympic Games (BBC Media Centre).
• First athlete to win gold medals in both the 100m and 200m at the World Youth Championships (BBC Media Centre).

Competitive times in major championships

Harry’s 10.10 personal best places him among the top 50 British sprinters in history. He earned a bronze medal in the 4x100m relay at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, according to Wikipedia. He is also a three-time European champion and two-time Commonwealth champion, per the BBC Media Centre.

The trade-off: Harry’s 100m speed is undeniable — but injuries have cost him the consistent training blocks needed to dip below 10.00 seconds. The talent is there; the uninterrupted runway has not always been.

How old is Harry Aikines-Aryeetey?

Date of birth and age

• Born 29 August 1988 in London, England (Wikipedia).
• Age 36 as of 2025.
• Attended the University of Bath on an athletics scholarship (Wikipedia).

Early life and athletic beginnings

Harry grew up in London and showed sprinting talent early. He won BBC Young Personality of the Year at 17, as reported by the BBC Media Centre, after becoming the first athlete to sweep the 100m and 200m at the World Youth Championships. His scholarship at the University of Bath allowed him to train under world-class coaches while pursuing his education.

What this means: At 36, Harry is past the typical peak age for elite sprinting (which usually falls between 23 and 27), but he has successfully transitioned into a television career that leverages his athleticism and personality. His age is an asset now — experience, resilience, and a proven ability to bounce back.

Career timeline

• 29 August 1988: Born in London, England (Wikipedia).
• 2006: Won gold in 100m and 4x100m at World Junior Championships (Power of 10).
• 2007: Missed season with a back injury (Power of 10).
• 2009: Bronze medal in 4x100m relay at World Championships in Berlin (Wikipedia).
• 2010: Missed European Championships and Commonwealth Games trials due to injury (Power of 10).
• 2012: Olympic debut in London, competed in 4x100m relay (BBC Media Centre).
• 2016: Second Olympic appearance in Rio de Janeiro (BBC Media Centre).
• 2024: Appeared on Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special with Nancy Xu (BBC Newsround).
• 2025: Confirmed for full Strictly Come Dancing series (BBC Media Centre).

The timeline reinforces the pattern: setbacks, surgery, return.

What’s confirmed vs. what’s not

This distinction helps readers know what is reliably documented versus unconfirmed.

In his own words

“I’ll be shifting gears and sitting out events in that series.”

— Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, on his knee injury, as told to BBC Newsround

“He’s bulletproof.”

— A source close to the athlete, describing his recovery mindset, as reported by the Daily Mirror

These quotes underscore his determination and the resilience that defines his career.

The road ahead

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey has turned every injury into a comeback — from a back injury at 19 that sidelined him after world junior glory, to a ruptured kneecap that left him bedridden but didn’t stop him from signing up for Strictly Come Dancing. For the 36-year-old sprinter-turned-TV personality, the choice is clear: keep moving, or get left behind. And if his track record is any guide, he’ll be dancing — and sprinting — well past the finish line.

Frequently asked questions