Dame Sarah Story: Great Britain’s most successful Paralympian announces retirement ahead of 2028 Games in Los Angeles | Olympic news

Dame Sarah Storey won a British record 19 Paralympic gold medals across swimming and cycling; The 48-year-old made his Paralympic debut at the 1992 Barcelona Games; Story ends her career two years before the next Paralympic Games in Los Angeles

Dame Sarah Storey won a British record 19 Paralympic gold medals across swimming and cycling

Dame Sarah Storey has announced her retirement from competitive sport, ending a career that saw her become Great Britain’s most successful Paralympian.

Storey, 48, won a British record 19 Paralympic gold medals across swimming and cycling, but decided to step away from competition two years before her 10th Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

“I am very fortunate to have spent 35 years as an international athlete,” Storey said. “I really pinch myself that my childhood dream of being an athlete has led to opportunities in nine Paralympic Games and so many sporting events for as long as possible.

“It includes women’s and para sports alike, and I’m very proud to have contributed – along with so many incredible people – to the progress we’ve all witnessed and enjoyed during that time.”

Storey made her Paralympic debut as a swimmer at the Barcelona Games in 1992, taking time off school to compete at just 14 years old. He won two gold medals there and three more in Atlanta four years later.

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Dame Sarah Storey says her 19th Paralympic gold medal ‘means as much as her first’

She won four silver medals and a bronze across the Sydney and Athens Games before switching to cycling before Beijing 2008.

He went on to win 14 more Paralympic gold medals – nine in road cycling and another five in the velodrome. All four of his titles came in front of a home crowd in London, and he retired two years ago as a reigning Paralympic champion after double success in Paris.

“Physically, I fully believe I can be on that start line in Los Angeles, confident of defending my two titles from Paris,” Storey added.

“However, I believe I can now make a more positive impact by leveraging new roles and opportunities that allow me to fight for para sport and the coverage it deserves.”

His announcement comes ahead of this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where the Para sports schedule has been integrated into the competition schedule.

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Sarah Storey claims her 18th gold medal by winning women’s C5 time trial at Paris 2024

However, Storey believes more needs to be done to continue the development of para sports.

“There is no doubt in my mind that, within para sport, we have stagnated somewhat since London 2012, and the years between each Games have not been used well enough to build the momentum that I and others had hoped to see,” he added.

“I see this as a critical stage; there are many areas of para sport that still need attention, and this is something that played a big part in my decision.

“I fully believe that I can make more impact from my bike instead of chasing a 10th Games and maybe more titles.

“I am excited to be a part of a future where we are injecting the momentum needed to ensure that all para athletes have a bright future.”