Sophie has spent the past 2 years trying to raise awareness of open water swimmers with disabilities in the hope that more people will become inclusive and accepting to people of all abilities.
She has also spent the past year building a community of athletes with disabilities through her ADOWS Facebook group which now has over 600 people in it.
Members include those with all sorts of disabilities from people with invisible conditions such as Fibromyalgia and brain injuries to those with visual impairments and amputees. There are also coaches, event organisers and carers in the group so that they can learn the best way to support and include those with disabilities within their work.
Since starting the group Sophie has worked with The Henley Swim Company and The British Long Distance Swimming Association to help them improve accessibility at their events.
Sophie grew up in Hastings and was an active, fully able-bodied swimmer but in 2011 she was involved in a cycling accident, which resulted in a long diagnostic process before finally being diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome; one of the most painful conditions in the world in late 2012.
Suddenly finding herself struggling to walk and in constant pain was tough. She struggled with being constantly exhausted and to put the cherry on the top; due to hypersensitivity she was unable to wear trousers or leave the house if it was windy because it was too painful for her.
Triathlete to wheelchair user in under a year.
It took several years of struggling with different medications, physiotherapy appointments, hospital stays and falling into a deep depression before she was sent onto a pain management programme. The course was intensive for 3 weeks but in total lasted a year and it was as a result of this course that Sophie rediscovered her love of the water.
It wasn’t an easy journey back into the water because anything on her legs hurt – including water!
It was about 6 months before she could get in the local leisure centre pool and start swimming again but as soon as she did she knew it was where she was meant to be.
Since then (2016) she has gone on to not only get back into open water swimming but has taken on some huge swims including The Great East Swim 1 mile (2016) and 5km (2019), The Thames Marathon Swim (2018), 10km in lake Tallyn in Wales (2019), the Swim England Open Water National Championships (2019) and finally, in September 2021 Two Way Windermere, which she completed in 16 hours and 41 minutes!
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out.
To support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media. Sign up as a Patron - www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Thank you.
Listen to Sophie Now!
Click here if you can't see the link below.
Show notes
Who is Sophie
Growing up in Hastings
How she got into swimming
Doing her first 5k at the age of 11
Being disqualified from her first swimming gala
Playing music in an orchestra
Wanting to be a sports physiotherapist
Choosing between music and sports or physical education
Being diagnosed with epilepsy as a child
Playing clarinet and piano as her way to relax
Studying music at Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge
Going to university and swimming at the same time
Joining a local triathlon club
Before and after the accident
Being diagnosed with Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
Being on her own while in the middle of her degree
From being active to absolutely nothing
Feeling all her plans are out of reach
Being away from her family
Experiencing bullying at university
Feeling lost for about five years
Being put on a pain management program at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge
Getting back into the water and tolerating the pain
Falling in love with swimming again
Wanting to be a swimming coach again
Getting her level two open water coaching qualification
Getting help from Straight Line Swimming run by Keri-anne Payne
Feeling herself again after 8 years
Campaigning for disabled swimmers
Creating the community Adaptive/Disabled Open Water Swimmers (ADOWS)
Magical moments for her when it comes to swimming
Making so many new friends through swimming
Doing the Aberdovey Swim in 2019
Her plans to do the Two-Way Windermere (2WW) in 2020
Using Windermere swim to raise awareness and fundraise for a disability sports charity The Arctic One
Having surgery before her two-way swim
Pushing through the challenge
Her whole experience while doing the Windermere swim
Her top tips and advice
Social Media
Website: www.sophie-adaptive-athlete.com
Instagram @sophie_adaptive_athlete
Facebook @SEasaptiveathlete
ADOWS (Adaptive/Disabled Open Water Swimmers) Facebook group
Feeling inspired week after week?
You can do 3 easy things to help me continue to grow the podcast!
Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, so you won’t miss a single episode
If you’re loving the podcast, please leave a 5-star review on iTunes! I read every single comment!
Share the podcast with your friends, especially if you think it could help them, and spread the #ToughGirlPodcast love.
Your support helps me continue to grow the podcast and do inspiring things in this space! Already done all 3? You’re a rockstar! Thank you!
Want to do more?
Please become a Patron and donate US$5 a month to help fund the runnings costs. Thank you.
