An interview with Ellie Simmonds

Which women have inspired you most throughout your life? 

For me there's been many women throughout my personal life and career that have inspired me, particularly as a youngster a lady called Nyree Lewis. At the age of 9 I was sitting on the sofa watching the Athens 2004 Paralympics, seeing the success of Nyree who achieved gold medal in the S6 100m backstroke. I was in awe. I asked my mum how old you have to be to compete at the Paralympics, and do you have to be good. Since that moment on the sofa I was inspired, and my dream was set that I wanted to go to a Paralympics and get a gold medal. Never thinking as a child, I would get to meet her a few years later and then be on the team together going to Beijing in 2008. 

When did you first discover you first loved swimming? When did it become a calling, rather than just a hobby? 

I've always loved swimming, ever since I was young going to the Caravan in Wales by the sea, to learning how to swim at the age of 5. Having always been an active child, I always wanted to be doing something and swimming just fitted as I wanted to be safe around the water learning but also it was fun doing it after school with all my friends. I think it was that natural click while watching Athens 2004 when I was inspired that if I wanted to go to a games, I needed to put hard work and effort into it, it was a natural progression from something after school to becoming an athlete. 

You were 13 when you swam at your first Paralympic Games, and became the youngest recipient of an MBE at 14. What was it like to compete and travel at such a young age? How did it feel?  

At the time I really didn't think of my age, I just took it all in and thought this is awesome being away in a different country, going to China, going to a Paralympics and being with all my teammates. It's not until I look back now as a 26-year-old and see 13-year-olds and think there pretty young, how did I cope with all that when I was that age but I think I took it all in my stride. I had great parents who supported me all the way, a great coach Billy Pye who's still my coach now and such great teammates that supported me, they were like family that looked after me being away from home and in a new environment. 

Lockdown has been particularly hard for young athletes, and young people. Do you have any advice for young people who have big ambitions but may feel particularly deflated or stuck at the moment? 

It's a hard time for all at the moment, we never would have thought to be in this position and still be in it a year later, it's hard when it's something we cannot control. But my advice would be, try to focus on the things you can control at the moment. You can do anything if you put your mind to it, and believe you can. Work on the things that maybe you don't normally get the time to do as life can be a bit of a rush when we are out doing the 'norm'. 

Is there anything you do to actively help you keep a strong mindset? 

Talking, I realised that when I bottle things up my mindset just goes in a bit of a spiral. So, for me talking to people, reaching out to those that I feel I can open up to, to express my worries, stresses or things that are on my plate too. Also doing yoga and mindfulness is a huge help to me. 

You’re passionate about empowering women and girls – how does your role as a Scout Ambassador fit into this? What is it about working with young people that inspires and motivates you? 

Young people are the next generation, they are the ones that are going to change things, that are going to inspire the next generation after that. Being able to be part of Scouts and being a Scouts Ambassador gives me that chance to reach out and be there for those young people, to hopefully teach them what I have learnt and inspire them to be able to achieve absolutely anything.

Do you have any advice on how to find and pursue a passion in sport, especially if you feel intimidated by it or haven’t found the right one yet? 

There are so many sports out there, I think for me my advice would be try them all or give as many as you can a go until you find the one that you enjoy, I think being so many from the sports that we know like football, netball, gymnastics to the sports that we haven't heard of much like underwater hockey or race walking. Things that are new to us will always be a bit nerve wracking and intimidating but you don't know what it's going to like until you give it a go.  

Are there any challenges/barriers you think women – and particularly women with face in sport? How have you dealt with these throughout your career? 

I think there can be a few challenges women can face in sport but I think with the awareness, and growing popularity of women's sport this is changing with having more and more women sport being showcased on TV with the likes of women's football to netball, women presenters broadcasting men's football. I think a challenge can be for women that doesn't really get talked about is the time of the month, this can happen to all women and can really affect their participation in sport at grassroots level and also it can affect elite athletes. 

What’s the most beautiful sight you’ve ever woken up to? 

The most beautiful sight I have ever woken up to, and a time I'll never forget is when I was on an island of Madagascar called Nosey Iranja. I was camping on the island with no signal, nothing. It was beautiful. Waking up on the beach to the waves crashing, pristine blue water that was like clear as anything and the sun rising. I remember trying to take it in, but I felt like it was just so beautiful my eyes couldn't take it. It was better than a paradise. 

What’s been keeping you busy during lockdown? 

I am very lucky that the government are letting elite athletes still train but only at their elite centres. I have moved out of London and living in Manchester, so swimming and training are what's keeping me busy with my eyes set on the summer games in Tokyo.