Dame Sarah Storey brings down curtain on glittering career

ParalympicsGB’s most successful athlete of all time Dame Sarah Storey has announced her retirement from competitive sport.

During her glittering career she competed at an incredible nine Paralympics Games winning a total of 30 medals including 19 golds eclipsing the previous record of 16 golds achieved by swimmer Mike Kenny.

Sarah was just 14 years old when she began her Paralympic career as a swimmer, competing at four games: Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004, picking up a combined total of five gold, eight silver and three bronze medals.

Following Athens, Sarah decided to make the switch to Para-cycling and achieved incredible success as she became a dominant rider on the track and road including winning four gold medals in front of an enthralled home crowd at London 2012.

She said: “I am so privileged to have spent 35 years as an international athlete. I genuinely pinch myself that my childhood dream of being an athlete for as long as I possibly could has led to nine Paralympic Games and opportunities across so many sporting events.

“This has included women’s and Para sport alike, and I feel so proud to have contributed – alongside so many incredible people – to the progress we’ve all witnessed and enjoyed in that time.”

Sarah made the decision to call time upon her competitive career as she wants to utilise her experience to ensure that the momentum created for Para sport by London 2012 is fully realized.

She said: “There’s also no doubt in my mind that, within Para sport, we have stalled somewhat since London 2012, and the years between each Games haven’t been utilised well enough to create the momentum that I and others hoped to see.

“I see this as a critical stage; there are many areas of Para sport that still need attention, and that is something that has played a big part in my decision. I fully believe that I can have a greater impact off my bike, rather than chasing a tenth Games and possibly further titles. 

“I’m excited to be part of a future where we inject the momentum that is needed to ensure the future is bright for all Para athletes.”

Penny Briscoe, Chef de Mission at ParalympicsGB, said: “Sarah Storey has been an incredible athlete who has transcended the sport and been a wonderful ambassador for ParalympicsGB.

“To compete at such an elite level over nine Paralympic games winning an historic 30 medals is testament to her remarkable dedication, focus and talent and her legacy as the most successful ParalympicsGB athletes of all time will endure for many years to come.

“It is not only on the field of play that she has had a huge impact though, as she has also been at the forefront of the growth of the Paralympic movement in this country and I am delighted she will continue to play a major role in its continued development.”

Sarah won her first Paralympic title at the age of 14 and she overtook Mike Kenny as her country’s most successful Paralympian in Tokyo in 2021. Each of her last eight titles have been won as a mother, after the birth of daughter Louisa in 2013 and son Charlie in 2017.

She has a burgeoning career in media and recently worked as part of the presenting team at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Games for Channel 4 and will be part of the coverage of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on TNT Sports this month.