Who is Nadiya Bychkova’s boyfriend Matija Škarabot?
STRICTLY dancer Nadiya Bychkova will be partnered up with a new star in the show’s 19th series.
But when she’s not on the dance floor, the Strictly choreographer shares a life with her long-term partner Matija Škarabot. Here’s what you need to know about him.
Who is Matija Škarabot?
Football enthusiasts may be familiar with Matija.
While Nadiya is an iconic face on Strictly Come Dancing, ever since she joined the show in 2017, Matija is famous professional footballer.
Born on February 4, 1988, he hails from Nova Gorica in Slovenia.
Matija made his first appearance on the field in 2009, while playing for Slovenia U21, the national under-21 team, during a friendly match against Romania U21.
He then went on to play for the Slovenia national football team in October, 2010, for the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying matches.
Matija has since played for other teams in both Croatia and Slovenia, in the likes of Rijeka, Olimpija Ljubljana and Gorica.
Since 2019, he plays as a left back for Slovenian football club Primorje.
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When did Matija Škarabot and Nadiya Bychkova get married?
While in a long-term and committed relationship, Nadiya is yet to be married, although Matija has put a ring on it.
The football player asked for her hand in marriage but the couple has not had the chance to organise their nuptials as of yet.
The Ukrainian Strictly choreographer and former Playboy model was previously married to Russian dancer Sergey Konovaltsev.
The pair tied the knot back in 2013 but went their separate ways two years later.
Do Matija Škarabot and Nadiya Bychkova have kids?
Although neither of them share much about her – her name is unknown to this day – Nadiya and Matija welcomed a daughter in 2016.
In March, 2018, Nadiya posted a simple snap to celebrate the International Women’s Rights day on her Instagram profile.
The dancer could be seen leaning towards her daughter, who then had her back turned to the camera, to give her a kiss on the forehead.
In June, 2020, the engaged couple celebrated their daughter’s fourth birthday with another adorable Instagram post.
“Happy birthday to our precious daughter”, the caption read, “you give us a thousand reasons to smile every day… always remember how much you are loved.”
Since becoming a mother, Nadiya has frequently shared her love for her daughter on social media while making sure her name and face remained a secret.
Both Matija and their daughter will be cheering on for Nadiya on Saturday, September 18, 2021, as the 19th series of Strictly Come Dancing will kick off at 7:45pm on BBC One.