The Gladiators star has swapped the arena for the kitchen as she takes on Celebrity MasterChef08:16, 28 Aug 2026Updated 08:18, 28 Aug 2026Emily Steel has become a familiar face on TV as Gladiators powerhouse Dynamite – but there is much more to the 23-year-old than her alter ego.‌The Manchester-born athlete shot to fame when she joined the BBC's Gladiators reboot as Dynamite, becoming the youngest member of the line-up. Now, Emily has swapped the arena for the kitchen as she takes on a very different challenge in Celebrity MasterChef.‌The sporting star is among the celebrities battling it out in the 2026 series, where she has been putting her culinary skills to the test in front of judges Grace Dent and Giorgio Locatelli. And viewers have already seen that Emily isn't afraid of bringing the heat.‌During her appearance, the Gladiator served up a dish packed with chillies – so fiery that Grace was left struggling with the heat and said she could no longer feel her mouth. But away from the MasterChef kitchen and the Gladiators arena, Emily has built an impressive career in her own right.Who is Emily Steel?Born in Greater Manchester in 2003, Emily grew up as a talented sportswoman and competed in swimming at national level until she was around 15. She eventually discovered CrossFit and quickly established herself as an elite competitor.‌Her sporting CV is particularly impressive for someone still in her early twenties. Emily became a European CrossFit champion in her age category in 2020 and has also competed internationally at major fitness events. She later turned her attention to weightlifting and made her mark on the British scene.Why is she called Dynamite?Emily's Gladiators name is a perfect fit for her personality and athletic style. She has explained that Dynamite represents someone who is "small, explosive and dangerous".At around 5ft 5in, she may not be the biggest Gladiator, but her strength and speed have made her a formidable opponent. When she first joined the reboot, Emily was only 20 and was the youngest Gladiator in the new line-up.‌She admitted she was too young to remember the original 1990s series – something that made her introduction rather different from some of her older co-stars. Her parents, however, were fans of the original show and encouraged her to audition.Emily Steel’s weightlifting recordIn 2023, Emily won gold at the BUCS Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting Championships in Bangor. Competing in the women's 64kg category, she lifted 71kg in the snatch and 100kg in the clean and jerk, giving her a 171kg total.‌The clean and jerk performance saw her break the British U23 record. Emily had previously held a British under-20 snatch record, underlining just how quickly she progressed in the sport. Her strength has also proved useful on Gladiators, where Dynamite has become known for her explosive power.Surprise music careerWeightlifting and Gladiators aren't Emily's only passions. She has also developed a career in music and has released original songs including Walking Away, Something Like This and Still Chasin' You.Her music has given fans another glimpse of the person behind the Dynamite persona, with Emily pursuing song writing and performing alongside her television and sporting commitments.‌Is Emily Steel in a relationship?Emily's love life has attracted curiosity from fans, but unlike some reality and television stars, she has kept this part of her life largely private.There is no confirmed public information identifying a current boyfriend or partner, and Emily has not publicly announced a relationship that can be reliably reported.Article continues belowRather than becoming known for celebrity romances, the young star has so far kept the focus firmly on her sporting career, television work and music. Her social media presence similarly centres heavily on fitness, Gladiators, music and her professional projects.Celebrity MasterChef is on BBC One and BBC iPlayer