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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Ariane Sohrabi-Shiraz

Love Island 2021: What is clubfoot as Hugo becomes series' first disabled islander

Hugo Hammond will become Love Island 's first ever contestant with a disability when he enters the villa on June 28.

Hugo, a secondary school PE teacher from Hampshire, has played cricket for England's national physical disability team.

The 24-year-old was born with clubfoot, and said he had "lots of operations when I was a kid".

He added: "You can only really tell when I walk barefoot. I've got a really short Achilles heel. I walk slightly on my tip toes.

"I’ve actually played cricket for England PD (Physical Disability). I’ve been to Bangladesh, Dubai, I’ve been everywhere to play cricket."

Hugo is the first Love Island star with a disability (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Hugo has never let the condition hold him back, and has enjoyed a successful sporting career.

So what exactly is clubfoot? Here we explain the condition.

What is clubfoot?

Clubfoot, also known as talipes, is a condition where a baby is born with a foot, or feet, that are turned in and under, according to the NHS.

This usually happens because the Achilles tendon, or the large tendon at the back of the ankle, is too short.

The condition affects about one in every 1,000 babies born in the UK, and it's more common in boys.

It's not a painful condition for babies, but it can become painful later and make it difficult to walk.

Clubfoot can sometimes be associated with hip or spine problems, according to the paediatric orthopaedics Oxford University Hospitals website.

However, it can usually be corrected with early treatment.

At Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre clubfoot is treated using the Ponseti method, which is non-surgical.

One in 1,000 babies in the UK are born with clubfoot (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

This involves mental manipulation of the foot to correct each element of the deformity.

Above-the-knee plaster casts are also used with the knee flexed to maintain the corrected foot position.

They aim to do this within the first week to 10 days from birth.

The website added: "Most babies usually require a small procedure to lengthen the normally tight achilles tendon at the back of the heel."

To prevent the deformity relapsing the baby will then be required to wear a boots-on-bar sandal.

All babies are then required to be followed up regularly by the physiotherapy team every six months, and yearly after the casts have been completed.

Who is Hugo Hammond?

Hugo Hammond is one of the contestants of Love Island 2021 (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Will you be watching Love Island 2021? Let us know in the comments below!

Hugo Hammond is a PE teacher in secondary school from Hampshire.

Speaking about his job, he said: "I absolutely love my job. I love all my sports. It’s great to be able to pass on that enthusiasm to be physically active to the younger generation and hopefully they feel the same about me teaching them."

The sports lover is hoping to find romance in the villa and has been "single for a while now".

Ahead of appearing on the show, he said: "I’ve been single for a while now. With the current climate, it’s been really hard to get back into dating. I saw it as an opportunity to have an amazing fun summer and put myself back out there."

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