Paralympic gold medallist and broadcaster Ellie Simmonds OBE is backing World Celebration Day, a global moment to honour the people who have shaped our lives for the better. Here, she reflects on the lessons that have carried her from the pool to life beyond elite sport, and the family members she’ll be raising a toast to this year.
My morning ritual is …
If I’m at home, I like to get up fairly early. Every day is different with work, but if I can have it my way, I’ll wake up at about 7.15am, make a coffee and give myself a bit of time to come round.
I’m not someone who can just jump out of bed and get going straight away. I need half an hour to wake up properly, have my coffee, shower, get ready and then, if I can, I’ll go to Barry’s Bootcamp and get a good workout in before breakfast. That sets me up really well for the day.
I feel optimistic about …
The number of people who are trying to do something positive for the planet. I went to Earthfest in London recently and sat in the audience for a panel of people working in conservation, climate change and ocean protection, and it really struck me how many individuals are doing their bit.
It can feel like we are living in quite a negative world at the moment, but there are so many people taking small actions that add up to change, whether that’s through organisations such as Surfers Against Sewage, or through sport, which can be such a powerful way to raise awareness about the environment and ocean conservation.
I think we sometimes forget to celebrate those people: the individuals who are trying to make sure the earth, the oceans and the natural world are looked after for the future.
What makes me angry …
… are middle-lane hoggers. I drive a lot for work and it really gets to me when people sit in the middle lane for no reason.
Also, bad manners. If you hold a door open for someone and they don’t say thank you, I find that really frustrating. It doesn’t take much to be polite.
If I wasn’t an athlete, I’d have liked to become …
… a farmer. I loved the idea of looking after animals and having lots of horses. I still absolutely love animals, dogs, chickens, horses, all of it, so I think I would have done something connected to animals and looking after them. We had a lot of animals growing up, and I think that shaped me.
The habit that has served me best in life is …
…trying to be on time. I hate being late. It really agitates me.
That definitely comes from being an athlete, because you had to be on time for training and, if you missed a race call time, that was it: your race was over. My coach growing up taught us that if you’re on time, you’re late, and that has stayed with me.
I’m grateful for it, because I would much rather be 30 minutes early than rushing around and stressing.
The habit I’ve successfully kicked is …
…being overly competitive. It was a great trait to have as an athlete, and I am still competitive now, but I’ve learned that it’s not the end of the world if I don’t win.
I’m also trying to be more relaxed when things don’t go exactly to plan. When I was competing, especially around London 2012, there was so much pressure: it was a home Paralympics, I wanted to be the best I could possibly be and I wanted to win gold. Taking that pressure off is hard, but I’m learning to rein it in and remind myself that not everything has to be perfect.
My sources of joy are …
…being out and about. The weather at the moment makes such a difference too. When the sun is shining, it brings everyone so much joy.
I love being able to travel, see different parts of the country and be around people. I’m a very social person, so spending time with friends, family and others is a huge source of happiness for me.
When things get tough I …
… try to acknowledge that things are hard, while also remembering that there is light at the end of the tunnel. You’re not alone, and talking to people really helps, as does getting outside in nature and communicating how you’re feeling.
Sometimes work can be tough, especially the logistics of being here, there and everywhere, trying to fit in travel, exercise and rest. I remember the summer of 2024 around the Olympics and Paralympics, when there was a lot of travelling, not much sleep and long periods away from home.
At those times, I remind myself that it’s a short period, that adrenaline and coffee can get you through some of it, and that it’s also important not to say yes to everything.
The book I wish everyone would read is …
I love a good indoor plant book. That’s my lifeline at the moment, because I’m constantly reading up on how to keep my plants alive. A lot of people kill indoor plants, and I’m trying very hard not to be one of them.
The big thing I’ve changed my mind about in life is …
… that it’s OK to say no to things. When I was younger, I wanted to be doing something all the time, and in this next chapter of life there’s a temptation to say yes to everything, partly because you want to get yourself out there and make the most of opportunities. But I’ve learned that saying no can be a good thing, because it means you can give your best to the things you choose to do. It’s OK to slow down, and it’s OK not to have fear of missing out all the time.
What keeps me awake at night …
I’m definitely an overthinker, and I’m aware that it’s one of my traits. I’ll worry about what I’ve said, whether I said something wrong, whether I did something wrong, and I can go over things in my head. That can keep me awake at night.
I’m learning to rein it in and remind myself that not everything has to be perfect
The thing that motivates me most of all is …
When I was an athlete, my motivation was to be a gold medallist and to represent my country. Now it’s different. It’s more about little challenges, different projects and the fact that every day can be completely different. I get to do some amazing things, and that variety keeps me excited and motivated.
My parents taught me …
To be polite, to be kind and to look after people. My parents fostered more than 100 children and adopted the five of us, so giving back and caring for people with different needs and different disabilities was part of our family life. That sense of kindness and looking after others is something they really instilled in me.
I’d like to tell my younger self …
… to slow down and take it all in. Capture every moment, take lots of photos and make memories.
I’m really thankful that during London 2012 I took loads of photos, because now I have all those memories to look back on. When you’re in the middle of something huge, it can go by so fast, so I’d tell my younger self to pause a little more and enjoy it.
The people I’m celebrating this World Celebration Day are …
… my auntie Shirley and my grandma. World Celebration Day feels like a poignant moment to celebrate people who have made an impact on our lives, and sometimes we forget to recognise the family and friends who are there supporting us along the way.
My family came to so many competitions and made such a difference to me. Sometimes I couldn’t speak to them before or after a race, but just knowing they were in the crowd, sitting there and cheering me on, had such an impact on my everyday life and my career.
