Hiya Lauren! You started life as a swimmer – can you tell us how you first got into it?

My mum had all sorts of fears from my only having one hand and part of dealing was that fear was teaching me to swim. I was at primary school and felt sorry for the teacher who asked if anyone would represent the school at a local swimming competition… and no one volunteered, so I did. The previous head of British Paralympic swimming was at the gala and told me that I could be something incredible. Now, I always tell young kids that you never know who’s watching you. I was 11 at the time, went to a local academy, did the Kellogg’s bronze, silver and gold awards and that was that.

I didn’t know that the Paralympics were a thing at this point – it wasn’t the same size machine as it is now. I found it quite difficult to go to my first disability swimming competition because I didn’t really identify that way. Coming from a very small village, I’d never really been exposed to disability but I realised that there was this whole world of incredible athleticism that I never even realised existed. I got picked up by British Swimming when I was 15 and went to my first Paralympics as a swimmer.

Was it difficult to make the switch from swimming to triathlon?

My uncle was a keen triathlete and I think, looking back, it was the right decision for me to stop swimming. I was a great swimmer but sometimes your best isn’t actually good enough. I’ve found what I excel in – I found my sport. I’m really proud that I was able to make that switch and to sit here now with all these accolades and titles as a keen triathlete who gets to do something I love.

“The hardest part comes after the gold”: Lauren Steadman MBE on the mental challenges of being an Paralympic champion ahead of Paris 2024