Abi Burton | I Woke Up From a Coma… and Won the World Cup

In this episode of Performance People, Georgie sits down with Red Roses Rugby World Cup winner Abi Burton, whose story of survival, recovery, and triumph is as heart wrenching as it is inspiring. At just 22, Abi was struck down by a rare autoimmune brain illness that left her fighting for her life. But somehow, after more than 3 weeks in a coma, she recovered, rebuilt her body and mind, and made her way back into the England squad, lifting the Rugby World Cup just three years after her brush with death.

Abi opens up about the emotional and physical battles that shaped her comeback, the lessons learned from redefining success, and how she’s found strength in vulnerability. She also shares what it means to be part of a new generation of women’s rugby players inspiring change; from Ellie Kildunne’s Barbie moment to the unapologetic individuality of rivals like Ilona Maher.

It’s a conversation about resilience, self-belief and the growing power of women’s sport. Honest, funny and deeply human, Abi Burton proves that performance isn’t just about winning medals, it’s about becoming stronger than you ever thought possible.

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The ainslie + ainslie Performance People podcast talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday.

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