Looking Back: My Career IN Sport

As part of the "get to know me" series, I thought I'd go back and share a bit about my sports career. I've been out of the game for quite a few years, but when I look at everything I do now it's all stemmed from my career in sport. 

I enjoyed a very successful time as a Paralympic archer, winning gold in Beijing 2008 and then retaining my title on home soil in London 2012. Competing at a home Games was incredible, and standing on that podium as I was given the gold medal was unforgettable. I was a 5-time World Champion and I also made history as the first disabled person to represent England as an able-bodied athlete at the Commonwealth Games, where I won a gold in the team event.

Getting all these shiny gold medals and a huge trophy cabinet that takes quite a bit of polishing is an awesome part of the job, but sport gave me so much more. It taught me how to back myself and keep showing up when nobody else did. I learned that performance is never just about talent or technique, but shaped by the people around you and the habits you build.

When I'm invited to speak at events, I don't just share how I got into archery, rose to World Number 1 and stayed there for my entire career. This is only half the story because success doesn't happen in straight lines. You never jump from one win to the next: instead, you move through setbacks, rethink your approach, learn to trust yourself again and keep going. 

This is the version of the story that I tell. Not the highlight reel, but the parts when my confidence dipped or I had to make difficult decisions about what I wanted and how much work it would take to stay on track. Those experiences became the foundation of my skillset, influencing how I made decisions, handled pressure and worked with others.

Throughout my career, I saw the best of sport, but I also saw where things needed to improve. I experienced how difficult it was to pivot careers when you leave sport behind and how easily potential can be lost when the right structures and support are not in place. I saw the barriers that women and disabled people faced that had nothing to do with their abilities.

This revealed the importance of environments that genuinely help people succeed and shaped my passion for the work I do today.

My work might be different, but the aim is always the same. I help people recognise their strengths, respond confidently to challenging moments, and get the person underneath right so the professional can shine. I help organisations create environments where people can progress, not just operate, and where the lessons from sport translate into sustainable, meaningful performance.