Double Paralympic champion Jonnie Peacock opened the 100th Gym Group site today (3 October) with a live Q&A on Facebook.

Peacock presented a special HIIT (high intensity interval training) routine using his athletics and dancing knowledge, to celebrate the company milestone at the new gym in Feltham, London.

The sprinter also took part in a Facebook Live Q&A with fans of both his sporting achievements and new role as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing.

“I really enjoy going to the gym – I love leg exercises and lots of step-ups,” Peacock told the live audience. “Sometimes in life you have tough moments, and that includes the gym, but just think of the benefits to your body and the endorphins you will get for the rest of the day.”

Peacock advised aspiring sprinters to focus on creating explosive leg power through gym workouts, but also on improving the core through abdominal work.

He told fans he prefers going to the gym with a training partner to increase his motivation and revealed that his hectic TV and training schedule will reduce next year as he takes a short break from international competition ahead of the World Para-athletics Championships in 2019 and Paralympics in 2020.

The new facility takes the total number of The Gym Group gyms in London to 38 and underscores 10 years of rapid expansion to make the organisation the second largest low-cost gym operator in the market.

John Treharne, CEO of The Gym Group, said: “This a significant milestone in our 10-year history and is also symptomatic of the success of the low-cost model pioneered by The Gym Group. We look forward to continuing to provide top-quality facilities for our customers as we set about opening our next 100 sites.”