HARRY Aikines-Aryeetey has opened up about the rare condition which makes him “too powerful” – but could put him at risk of more injuries.

The Gladiators star – known as Nitro on the show – spoke about having myostatin deficiency, which is a condition that is so rare, only a few similar cases have ever been documented in medical recordings.

Strictly’s Harry Aikines-Aryeetey opened up on a rare condition that he hasCredit: Channel 4

The sprinter is also known as Nitro on GladiatorsCredit: BBC

He competed on Strictly with Karen Hauer this yearCredit: PA
The condition led to him injuring his knee during training and having to miss the second series of Gladiators, but he worked hard to compete on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, even if the deficiency worked against him.

Speaking to Tim Lovejoy and chef Simon Rimmer on Sunday Brunch, Harry explained how doing the dance routines could have been “dangerous” for him and lead to more injuries.

“I’m a very explosive person so I can touch one of these lights up here. I can jump, I can sprint and it’s because I produce a lot of force because of the muscles,” Harry said.

“However, if one thing goes wrong or if I try a little bit too hard, I injure myself.”

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Harry added: “So I can actually be too powerful.”

The Commonwealth Games gold medallist also described how he shared a “Herculean gene” with a Belgian breed of cattle known as the Belgian Blues.

The cattle have a naturally occurring mutation called “double-muscling” – which turns them into beefcakes.

Virtually every animal on Earth has a gene that produces a muscle growth-inhibiting protein called myostatin, Dominic Wells, a professor who studies myostatin at Imperial College London told ABC News.

High levels of myostatin make it hard for the body to build muscle, and low levels of myostatin, such as in the case of Harry, allow muscle to grow.

After the mice and cattle discovery, scientists found natural mutations in some dogs and sheep, but never in a human until 2004.

Harry competed with pro dancer Karen Hauer on Strictly but was eliminated sixth overall.

Harry previously took part in Strictly’s Christmas special last year before being brought back for the main series and will join the upcoming Strictly tour.

The tour officially kicks off on January 23, 2026, at the Birmingham Utilita Arena and concludes on February 15 at London’s O2.

It spans just over three weeks, visiting nine major cities including Newcastle, Manchester, Sheffield, Glasgow, and Nottingham.

Harry is a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallistCredit: instagram