FORMER Mount Kelly pupil and Paralympian Lauren Steadman was crowned joint winner on Channel 4’s Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins 2020 on Monday (May 25).

Lauren, a Paralympian medal winner and current European Triathlon Champion, was a contestant on Celebrity SAS as one of 12 well-known faces who thought they had what it took to pass SAS selection.

For the show’s finale on Monday, the six remaining contestants — former heavyweight boxing champion Tony Bellew, reality star Joey Essex, Rudimental DJ Locksmith, Hollyoaks actress Nikki Sanderson, TV presenter Helen Skelton and Lauren — underwent the final stage of the SAS selection process.

Over 48 hours the recruits endured the extreme interrogation phase of the process, which saw them face an onslaught of horrendous torture techniques, such as being doused in freezing cold water, forced to listen to anxiety-inducing noises while held in captivity and being shouted at.

When it ended, Locksmith and Lauren were the two recruits chief instructor Ant Middleton deemed worthy of passing the course.

Fran Reid, development and alumni manager at Mount Kelly, said: ’We are delighted that former Mount Kelly pupil (2007 to 2011) and Paralympian Lauren Steadman was announced as joint winner.

’Lauren began her swimming career at Mount Kelly and is currently the ETU European Triathlon Championship — she won this in September 2019 and it represented her seventh European Championship win with her fastest ever run split of 19.47.

’Lauren competed in the debut Paratriathlon in the Rio Paralympics and won a silver medal in 2016. She is also a triple World Paratriathlon Champion. Lauren is coached by fellow Old Mount Kelleian and former director of swimming at Mount Kelly, Robin Brew.

’Lauren has been a regular visitor back to Mount Kelly over the years since winning her medal in the Paralympics and is very generous with her time, speaking to pupils and inspiring our current generation of performance swimmers to achieve their goals.’