Ellie Simmonds

Ellie Simmonds OBE is a five-time Paralympic champion and world record holder whose extraordinary swimming career and engaging media presence inspire audiences to embrace resilience and push beyond perceived limits. Competing in four Paralympic Games from Beijing 2008 to Tokyo 2020, she won her first two golds at just 13 years old and went on to secure multiple world championship titles before retiring in 2021. Since stepping away from competitive swimming, Ellie has flourished as a BBC Sport presenter and documentary maker, with her BAFTA-winning film *Finding My Secret Family* showcasing her storytelling abilities. Her sessions equip teams and organisations with practical strategies for overcoming adversity, building confidence, and achieving peak performance under pressure.

At just thirteen years old, Ellie Simmonds OBE stepped onto the world stage at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, becoming the youngest member of Team GB and claiming two gold medals that would launch one of British sport's most celebrated careers. Born with achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism, she discovered swimming as a young child and transformed natural talent into extraordinary achievement, competing across four Paralympic Games and securing five gold medals, ten World Championship titles, and multiple world records before announcing her retirement from competitive swimming in 2021. Her performances at London 2012, where she set world records in both the 200m individual medley and 400m freestyle in front of a home crowd, cemented her status as one of Britain's most beloved athletes and earned her an OBE for services to Paralympic sport.

Throughout her competitive career, Ellie accumulated an impressive collection of accolades that extended beyond the pool, including BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year in 2008 and recognition at the 2011 Jaguar Academy of Sport Annual Awards. Her final Paralympic appearance at Tokyo 2020 saw her selected as ParalympicsGB flagbearer alongside archer John Stubbs, a fitting tribute to her impact on British Paralympic sport. Since retiring, Ellie has flourished in broadcasting, presenting for BBC Sport at major events including the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Her documentary work has garnered critical acclaim, with *Ellie Simmonds: Finding My Secret Family* winning Best Single Documentary at the 2024 British Academy Television Awards. She has also demonstrated her versatility through appearances on *Strictly Come Dancing* in 2022 and winning the fourth series of *Cooking with the Stars* in 2024, whilst her recent documentaries exploring themes of identity and family continue to resonate with audiences nationwide.

Beyond her media presence, Ellie remains a passionate advocate for disability sport and inclusion, serving as patron of the Dwarf Sports Association UK and championing access to sport for people with dwarfism. She has recently co-launched an extra-petite clothing brand designed specifically for people 5ft tall and under, addressing a long-overlooked gap in the fashion industry. As a speaker, Ellie connects authentically with audiences by sharing the mindset and strategies that enabled her to perform under immense pressure whilst navigating the unique challenges of elite sport. Her presentations equip teams with practical insights on resilience, self-belief, and redefining what's possible, whilst her warmth and humour ensure her messages resonate long after the event concludes. Organisations seeking to inspire their people through genuine stories of determination and adaptability find in Ellie a speaker whose achievements speak for themselves and whose impact extends far beyond the medals she won.