Gary Barlow serenaded a host of British Olympic champions at the Team GB ball on Wednesday night as part of their Rio Games celebrations and to help raise funds for the British Olympic Association. Sporting heroes including Tom Daley, Max Whitlock, and Jessica Ennis-Hill stepped out of their sporting lycra and into their glamorous evening wear for a night of carnival fun as Team GB were reunited for the first time since the glorious Olympic summer.
Pick up next week's issue of HELLO! out on Monday for the exclusive report and photos.
Gary Barlow performed at the Team GB ball
Talking to HELLO! (the ball's official media partner) before sitting down to a three-course meal at Battersea Evolution, Heather Stanning admitted it was always fun to have a chance to dress up and get out of her casual sports attire. "Certainly as rowing athletes we're used to being in lycra day in, day out, cap jammed on our heads, sunglasses on, so it's quite nice to step out to something different in the wardrobe," said Heather, who was joined by her rowing partner Helen Glover.
© Photo: Getty ImagesHelen Glover and Heather Stanning
Amy Williams, who is expecting her first child with husband Craig Ham, opened up about her pregnancy. "I was definitely pretty nauseous for the first four months, so I'm hoping I'm peaking," she revealed. "I'm waiting for that blooming stage to come. Bit of extra blusher and I'm alright. I'm still trying to jog - or plod - and I do yoga as much as I can. I'm just about to get myself an upright bike so I'm not bending over on a road one, but yeah I'm definitely trying my hardest to keep the fitness up and be a fit mum."
© Photo: Getty ImagesAmy Williams
Jessica Ennis-Hill could provide some tips, as the mum to little Reggie. The retired track and field athlete said: "Everyone keeps saying, what are you doing, how's retirement? I don't know what I'm doing but I'm busy all the time! And obviously having a little boy who needs a lot of attention and time, he's just non-stop, he fills my days, so retirement's great. Whenever I go away he's like 'Mummy, running?' and I'm like, no I'm not running anymore, but I think he really enjoys having that extra time with me. He's such a mummy's boy so it's lovely."
© Photo: Getty ImagesJessica Ennis-Hill and Princess Anne
Beth Tweddle, Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee and Leah Hickton were among the other athletes who stepped out for the event. The sporting heroes and heroines mingled with Princess Anne, sipped on champagne and posed for pictures with models in stunning traditional carnival costume as they waited for the evening's main event to get underway.
Wednesday's star-studded evening was the 7th annual Team GB Ball, but this year, for the first time, the event also included a Team GB Awards ceremony. Team GB's hockey gold medallists were the big winners of the night, picking up three of the five awards for Great Britain's Choice, Coach of the Year and BBC Moment of the Games.
© Photo: Getty ImagesTom Daley
Tom Daley did double duty on the night, not only participating as a Rio medal winner, but also presenting the evening's events alongside Claudia Winkleman. A live auction, which saw lots including completing the Crystal Maze experience with the Team GB hockey team and 'A day in the life of Mo Farah' at the Olympic star's training facility in Oregon, raised around £100,000.
