There is nothing more daunting than walking out to compete at an Olympic Games – or so five Team GB stars thought until they had to catwalk in front of RuPaul.
The world of the Olympic Games and the worldwide phenomenon that is RuPaul's Drag Race is an unlikely Venn diagram to occupy the middle of.
But the semi-final of Drag Race UK vs The World Season 3 changed all that with a makeover challenge worthy of a gold medal.
Five Team GB Olympians stepped out of their comfort zones and onto the runway during the most recent season of the show, with the Olympic makeover episode taking place in March 2026.
Swimmer Dan Jervis, BMX racer Shanaze Reade, sport climber Molly Thompson-Smith, rugby sevens player Celia Quansah and London 2012 Olympic champion long jumper Greg Rutherford were all guests on the show that sees drag queens from across the world go head-to-head for the coveted title.
Jervis said: "My dad was like, 'Only do it if you're going to be good at it,' so I said: 'Sign me up'!”
Paired up with American drag queen Mariah Balenciaga, two-time Olympian Jervis immediately stepped into the six-inch heels of his new drag persona Amirah and proved that not only was he good, he was makeover challenge winning material. Even if it didn't feel like it at the time.
"Swimming in Olympics was so much easier," he said.
"In the Olympics, you know what's going to happen. I've raced 1500m so many times, I know the drill.
"But when I walked on the runway, that was completely out of my comfort zone. It sounds cheesy but it's just about working the outfit.
"Mariah told me to just feel it. Be myself. Be Amirah."
For the Olympians involved, the theme of stepping out of your comfort zone ran deep.
Where Jervis was dressed to the nines in more than just speedos, BMX racing champion Reade noted that her time on the catwalk was far from her usual get-up, becoming The Only Claudya alongside the German drag queen The Only Naomy.
While the challenge was for the queens to turn their Olympians into members of their drag family, Reade’s own sister could not have been more jealous of the moment.
"I had never actually watched the show but my sister and nan are obsessed with it," she said.
"My sister thought she was being gaslit by me when I told her I was going on.
"BMX is seen as a very male-dominated world and I have two left feet, but I'm not afraid of dancing wherever I go. I just wanted to embrace it and see what happens."
Over two days, the five Olympians were introduced to the world of drag at the highest level, as they watched the queens produce outfits, makeup and wigs that few could ever imagine donning.
"I have a profound respect for everyone on that show," added Reade.
"I was so impressed by how versatile they were, being able to dance, being able to make their clothing, the lip-syncing and more.
"They are full on entertainers with so much talent and I was blown away by that.
"That then led to their personal stories about how they got to this point and what they've been through to get here."
While the makeovers were the crux of the episode, there were more emotional takeaways too.
Following a period of alcohol abuse, Reade embraced sobriety in 2017.
Speaking openly with Naomy about how she felt at the time and how she overcame that part of her life provided a raw moment.
"I became a Buddhist about two years ago after I went on a journey with my alcoholism. I feel like I have had a spiritual awakening," she said.
"So with Naomy, I felt I was exactly where I was supposed to be with exactly who I was supposed to be paired with."
While for Jervis, speaking openly about his coming out story in 2024 and how it has fit in with his faith was a key opportunity to inspire others.
"Whenever I get asked a question about what's it like being Christian and being gay, growing up, I always thought, 'Oh, you can't be both'," he said.
"Sitting on that sofa talking to Mariah, I understood there was going to be millions of people watching that.
"If one person was listening and realising that I did it, I am comfortable with myself, and I am proud of myself, then I feel like I'm doing my job.”
Olympians are no longer strangers on reality TV shows. SAS Who Dares Wins, MasterChef and The Traitors have all been bolstered by athletes, with Drag Race the next step in pushing sporting icons into the limelight.
"When you meet other Olympians, you don't really peel back the layers of what's going on," Reade added.
"You're all just sort of on autopilot, all talking about the same thing, going to the next Olympics or how your performance is going.
"It was nice to actually be in a setting where everyone was exposed.
"We were all there to be vulnerable to go out and be on that runway."
However, the biggest question following an appearance on one of the most iconic TV shows remains: What exactly is it like to be judged by the icon that is RuPaul?
"Well, first thing I will say is they are lovely," said Jervis. "RuPaul is amazing. Extremely tall!
"Before I went on the show, even though I had briefly watched the series, I did my research.
"The things they have done, the barriers that they have broken down for not only drag queens, but the LGBTQIA+ as a whole community is massive.
"I am from the valleys of South Wales so to be stood talking to RuPaul was so impressive."
As the Olympians’ competitive spirit hit the stage, Mariah and Amirah prevailed in the makeover challenge while The Only Naomy was told to 'sashay away' following a lip sync battle to Anastacia's 'Left Outside Alone'.
So, for our Olympians, who did not have the chance to take on the final challenge of the episode themselves, there is only one thing left to do: Lip sync… for… your… life.
"I am a massive Taylor Swift fan," said Jervis. "I'm the biggest Swiftie going.
"If I had to lip sync on stage, mine would probably be ‘I Can Do It With a Broken Heart’, because I don't think there's been a moment since the Eras Tour where I haven't reenacted that performance for anyone I know."
Reade added: "Eminem’s ‘I’m Not Afraid’ springs to my mind.
"That really embodies who I am. I'm not afraid and doing that on the runway I think would speak volumes."
Sportsbeat 2026