Dame Sarah Storey, GB's most successful Paralympian, retires

Dame Sarah Storey, Great Britain's most successful Paralympian with a record 19 gold medals, has announced her retirement from competitive sport at the age of 48. The announcement ends a 35-year career that spanned nine Paralympic Games across two sports.

Storey made her Paralympic debut as a swimmer at Barcelona 1992 at age 14, winning two gold medals. She added three more in Atlanta 1996 before switching to cycling ahead of Beijing 2008, where she began a second chapter of dominance. In total, she collected 14 Paralympic gold medals on the bike—nine in road cycling and five on the track—including four titles at London 2012.

Her final appearance came at Paris 2024, where she won two golds, making her a reigning champion upon retirement. Storey said she believes she could have competed at the Los Angeles 2028 Games but chose to step away to focus on advocating for Para sport.

A career of records and impact

• Won 19 Paralympic gold medals, the most by any British athlete
• Competed in nine Paralympic Games from 1992 to 2024
• Excelled in both swimming (5 golds) and cycling (14 golds)
• Won multiple world and European titles across both sports
• Awarded Damehood in 2013 for services to cycling and Para sport

Storey expressed pride in her achievements but also highlighted concerns about the development of Para sport since London 2012. She said she believes she can have a greater impact off the bike, fighting for better coverage and momentum for Paralympic athletes.

Her retirement comes as the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow prepare to integrate Para sport fully into the schedule, a step Storey supports but sees as only part of the work needed. She now plans to take on new roles to advocate for the future of Para sport.