Celebrity MasterChef 2025 star Gaz Choudhry: How did he lose his leg?
He retired from professional wheelchair basketball last year
Celebrity MasterChef 2025 contestant Gaz Choudhry is an inspiration for choosing not to be defeated by the childhood trauma of losing his leg, but exactly how did it happen?
The 40-year-old retired wheelchair basketball player represented Great Britain at the Summer Paralympics in 2012, 2016 and 2020. He was then appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 Birthday Honours.
Gaz was forced to have his leg amputated when he was just 10 years on. Read on for the full details.
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Celebrity MasterChef star Gaz Choudhry’s prosthetic leg explained
When Gaz still lived in his native Pakistan as a 10-year-old, he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in his right knee. Doctors had no choice but to amputate, leaving the youngster with just one leg and years of chemotherapy ahead of him.
His family relocated to London’s Ealing three years later, and this turned out to be the making of him. Gaz discovered the wonders of wheelchair basketball when a Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Association roadshow came to town.
The ex-Paralympian told Sky Sports in 2024: “I was super sporty before, just an active kid who couldn’t sit still. I ran, cycled and did all different sports. Once that disability hit, I was really fortunate in terms of my family… they didn’t restrict me. They still allowed me to be brave and they encouraged that”.
Gaz considers his entry into the world of wheelchair basketball “quite paradoxical” because that “freedom of movement was completely given back” to him.
What is osteosarcoma?
Osteosarcoma is a form of cancer in the bone. It usually strikes the long bones of the legs or arms, but it can happen in any bone. Hips, shoulders, and the jaw are at risk.
The condition is most associated with kids, teenagers and young adults. Symptoms include: a tumour with surrounding warmth, bone tenderness or pain, limited joint movement, swelling near a bone, a discolouration of the skin, and unexplained fever.
Why did Gaz Choudhry join Celebrity MasterChef 2025?
Speaking about his decision to compete in this year’s series of Celebrity MasterChef, Gaz claimed it “looked like a lot of fun”.
Per Media Mole, he added: “I’ve always been amazed at the dishes that people make on these shows, on the all the various MasterChef series. So when the chance came up to be on here, I was really excited!”
As for what he likes to rustle up for the plate, Gaz goes for Paella, pasta and Indian food, although “it depends on the time of the year”.
