Dame Sarah Storey, Britain's top Paralympian, shares her journey from swimming to cycling, breaking records and facing challenges. Reflects on childhood dream sparked by a TV show, overcoming bullying, and balancing family life. Discusses music and success in competitions, with a focus on resilience and determination.
Sarah's perseverance through challenges like chronic fatigue and bullying demonstrates the importance of resilience in achieving success.
Her advocacy for sustainable transport options as Active Travel Commissioner underscores the significance of promoting healthier lifestyle choices and reducing environmental impact in urban areas.
Balancing motherhood with a successful cycling career, Sarah prioritizes family alongside competitive sports, showcasing her dedication to both personal and professional growth.
Deep dives
Dame Sarah Storey's Remarkable Sporting Journey
Dame Sarah Storey, a decorated Paralympic athlete with a stellar 30-year career, shares her inspirational journey. Overcoming challenges like chronic fatigue syndrome, disordered eating, and bullies, she reflects on her immense success with 17 Olympic gold medals, her transition from swimming to cycling, and the significance of each victory. She delves into her experience at the Podium, notably during the restricted audience of the 2020 Olympics, expressing the thrill of representing Britain and the emotional impact of each win.
Navigating Success and Setbacks in Sporting Career
Sarah recounts her transition to cycling after swimming success, emphasizing the importance of perseverance amid setbacks. From facing coaching challenges in university to battling chronic fatigue syndrome post-2012 Olympics, she reflects on making good decisions and adapting to adverse conditions for optimal performance. Her resilient mindset and determination shine through, culminating in multiple gold medals at the Tokyo Paralympics.
Empowering Future Generations through Active Travel
Being the Active Travel Commissioner in Manchester, Sarah advocates for sustainable transport options, emphasizing safety, convenience, and diverse choices for commuters. She discusses the transformative impact of promoting active travel in urban spaces, highlighting the need for accessible infrastructure and multi-modal solutions to encourage healthier lifestyle choices and reduce environmental impact.
Balancing Motherhood and Athletic Prowess
Juggling motherhood with a successful cycling career, Sarah reflects on prioritizing family alongside competitive sports. Embracing the challenges of training and competing after childbirth, she shares the joys and ambitions of her children, Louisa and Charlie, displaying enthusiasm for their diverse interests and future endeavors.
Surviving on the Desert Island of Triumph and Resilience
Sarah's eclectic music choices reflect her inspiring journey from trials to triumphs. Her selection of iconic tracks symbolizes pivotal life moments, from championship wins to personal milestones. With a determined spirit akin to a true survivor, she navigates the desert island of sport and life, armed with resilience and a never-ending pursuit of excellence.
Dame Sarah Storey is Great Britain’s most successful Paralympian, winning 17 gold, eight silver and three bronze medals. She was just 14 when she took two weeks off school to compete as a swimmer in the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics, where she won her first two gold medals. Since then, she has competed in a further seven Paralympics, switching to cycling from 2005.
A TV documentary inspired Sarah's childhood ambition to take part in the Paralympics, even though her swimming club coach told her that it was too late - at the age of 10 - to start training for an elite career.
After competing in four Paralympics in the pool, she decided to try cycling after persistent ear infections and chronic fatigue. She was immediately successful and has continued to win medals at both the Paralympics and World Championships in numerous events, breaking many world records. She is supported on and off the track by her husband, Barney Storey, who is also a gold medal-winning cyclist. They have two children, who were born in 2013 and 2017.
Sarah is the Active Travel Commissioner in her home city of Manchester, and is still training with the aim of competing in the 2024 Paralympics in Paris – which would be her ninth games, at the age of 46.
DISC ONE: Livin’ on a Prayer - Bon Jovi
DISC TWO: Spinning Around – Kylie Minogue
DISC THREE: It Only Takes a Minute - Take That
DISC FOUR: A Different Beat - Boyzone
DISC FIVE: This is the One - The Stone Roses
DISC SIX: Heroes - David Bowie
DISC SEVEN: Wannabe - Spice Girls
DISC EIGHT: Step On – Happy Mondays
BOOK CHOICE: The Chimp Paradox by Professor Steve Peters
LUXURY ITEM: A snorkel and mask
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Livin’ on a Prayer - Bon Jovi
Presenter Lauren Laverne
Producer Sarah Taylor
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