Jodie Ounsley: Biography, Deafness, Father’s Death

There’s a reason people remember the name Jodie Ounsley. Long before she became Fury on the BBC’s Gladiators reboot, she was already making history as the world’s first deaf female rugby sevens international.

Born: 17 January 2001 · Known as: Fury on Gladiators · Deafness: Profoundly deaf from birth · Sport: Former England rugby sevens player · Father: Phil Ounsley, died suddenly in 2025

Seven key facts about Jodie Ounsley, pulled from official profiles and verified reporting.

Is Jodie Ounsley deaf?

Yes. Jodie Ounsley was born profoundly deaf, a condition that has shaped her path as an athlete and public figure. According to a feature by Olympics.com (International Olympic Committee media platform), she wore hearing aids from an early age, which made contact sports risky — yet she never let that stop her.

How does Jodie Ounsley communicate?

• She uses hearing aids and lip-reading to communicate, as noted by multiple profiles.
• In interviews, her speech is clear and she often uses visual cues.

The same Olympics.com article describes her as an active child who “refused to let deafness be a barrier.” That determination carried her into elite rugby.

What is Jodie Ounsley’s hearing level?

Profoundly deaf from birth — the most severe category of hearing loss. Yet she competed and excelled in hearing sports environments. The BBC News (UK public-service broadcaster) noted her role as Fury on Gladiators, a show that demands physical communication under pressure.

What happened to Jodie Ounsley’s father?

Phil Ounsley, Jodie’s father and a former West Yorkshire Police inspector, died suddenly on 30 November 2025 while walking Pen-y-ghent in North Yorkshire. He was 56 years old. The news was confirmed by Jodie on social media on 1 December 2025, as reported by Digital Spy (UK entertainment news).

How did Phil Ounsley die?

He collapsed while walking the Pen-y-ghent fell in the Yorkshire Dales. Wales Online (Welsh news outlet) reported that emergency responders, including an air ambulance, were unable to revive him. The exact cause of the collapse has not been made public.

When did Jodie Ounsley’s father die?

30 November 2025. Jodie Ounsley announced the death the following day. Cosmopolitan UK (lifestyle magazine) confirmed the date and location.

How did Jodie Ounsley react?

Jodie shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, describing her father as her “biggest supporter.” She also noted that Phil had been a contender on Gladiators in 2008, meaning the show runs deep in the family, according to the GladiatorsTV.com official site.

The pattern: Jodie’s professional resilience mirrors the personal loss she now carries publicly.

How old is Jodie Ounsley?

She was born on 17 January 2001, making her 24 years old as of 2025. Wikipedia (user-contributed encyclopedia) lists her birthplace as Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.

When was Jodie Ounsley born?

17 January 2001. That date is consistently used across all biographical sources.

What is Jodie Ounsley’s birthday?

17 January.

The implication: youth and achievement merge here, marking her as a rare multi‑stage talent.

Timeline

• 17 Jan 2001: Jodie Ounsley born in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire (Wikipedia, user-contributed encyclopedia).
• 2017–2021: Played for England women’s national sevens team. In 2019 she became the first deaf female rugby sevens international (Wikipedia).
• 2020: Received the Deaf Sports Personality of the Year award (Mirror, UK tabloid).
• 2023: Published children’s book Strong Girls Keep Smashing It (publication date not independently confirmed).
• 2024: Debuted as Fury on BBC One’s Gladiators reboot (Olympics.com).
• 30 Nov 2025: Father Phil Ounsley dies suddenly while walking Pen-y-ghent (Cosmopolitan UK).
• 1 Dec 2025: Jodie Ounsley announces his death on social media (Digital Spy).

What this means: the timeline shows a steady arc of achievement punctuated by a sudden personal loss that became public within a day.

“My dad was my biggest supporter. He always believed I could do anything, even when I didn’t believe it myself.”

— Jodie Ounsley, Instagram tribute (via BBC News)

“Fury is a force on the track, but off it Jodie is one of the most down-to-earth and determined athletes we’ve worked with.”

— BBC Gladiators production team (via GladiatorsTV.com)

Jodie Ounsley’s story is far from over. She continues to be a role model for deaf youth, a TV personality, and a published author. For anyone questioning whether disability can coexist with elite sport, her answer is written in every tackle, every event win, and every public tribute to a father who believed in her. The real test now is whether the media and public will treat her as more than a tragic headline — as an athlete with years of peak performance ahead. For more on British sports personalities, see Colin Jackson and Joe Calzaghe.