Welsh former wheelchair racer, parliamentarian and television presenter Tanni Grey-Thompson is one of the most successful athletes in the UK. As such, Tanni is an illuminating speaker, fantastic brand ambassador and charity front woman who inspires young people and old people alike with her motivational tales and grand sporting achievements. Grey-Thompson was born with spina bifida and is a wheelchair user who excelled at various sports from a young age.
It was in 1984 that Tanni’s Paralympic career started in the 100m at the Junior National Games for Wales. Since then she has also competed in wheelchair basketball, has attended no less than five Olympic Games – where she won two gold medals in wheelchair racing in the 100m and 400m – and has also picked up 13 World Championship medals including six gold, five silver and two bronze. On top of this, Tanni incredibly held over 30 world records during her time in sport and won the London Marathon an impressive six times between 1992 and 2002. In 1993, Tanni was made an MBE, then in 2000 was honoured with an OBE. In 2005 she became a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of her contribution to the world of sport. In 2010 the House of Lords also made Tanni a Life Peer and she is patron of numerous charities including Sportsleaders UK, a trustee of V, the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme, Sportsaid Foundation and the Wembley Stadium Legacy Trust.
