Alumna and former Paralympian Kate Grey visited us for Disability History Month 2022. Professor Rajani Naidoo, Vice-President of Community & Inclusion, hosted the talk.
Kate has been swimming internationally since debuting in 2006 at the World Championships and combined studying for a degree in Coach Education and Sports Development with training at the University pool. Since competing at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, Kate has been working tirelessly to represent disabled athletes globally and has turned her focus to a role as an athlete mentor working with young people to promote the power of sport, most recently launching a new career in the world of media and broadcasting.
Kate told us her story of being in an accident aged two, which caused her to lose one of her hands. She went on to discuss being a disabled person in a mainstream school and taking part in PE lessons with non-disabled classmates. Kate said as long you’re giving 100% that’s what matters: “My 100% may not be the best in the class, but it’s the best version of me that you’re getting, and I can walk away proud of that”
Being a sporty person and growing up on a farm, Kate was always active. She took part in many sports at school including netball and swimming, however it wasn’t always easy. Kate described how she initially “sank like a stone” and “swam around in circles” when learning to swim, but was supported by her parents who persisted and found a swimming teacher who was able to give Kate lessons which worked with her disability.
This led to Kate’s first disabled athletes swimming competition, which introduced Kate to people who were going through the same thing as her – allowing Kate to join a community of people with disabilities and make new friends.
After being spotted by talent scouts Kate was supported by the GB swimming team, with her eyes set on London 2012. With this goal in mind Kate was looking for universities where she could be a dual career athlete. This is when she found Bath: “My goal was always come to University of Bath… So it was a case of getting the grades to get here.”
Kate performed well academically and was admitted to the University of Bath. When she joined Bath she had to convince the elite swimming coach she was at the level to join the squad – which would give her the level of training she needed to attain Paralympic success. Speaking of proving herself to the coach Kate observed: “It was never about the disability, it was about the attitude.”
On her student life and fitting in during her undergraduate degree here Kate noted “Bath has a really lovely community of people, where [other students] respect everybody’s journey.”
Kate went on to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Paralympic games, and narrowly missed out on placing for a medal by half a second: “I had a bit of a wobble because I hadn't prepared for the mental pressure of being an athlete… Half a second was the difference between silver and fifth. That's how close the race was.”
After graduating Kate continued to train and compete, and become number one in the world: “I was pretty much ready to go to London [2012 Paralympics] as the favourite.”
This is when disaster struck. “I start getting coughs and colds that wouldn't go away… I got to a point where I was collapsing and struggling to even get up in the morning and ended up going to the doctors”. Kate was diagnosed with glandular fever just a few months before the trials for London 2012.
Despite her illness Kate continued to train and took part in qualifiers for the Paralympics, narrowly missing out: “I went to trials and I only missed out on qualifying by half a second.”
“I was in a bit of a wallowing state for a while and then [I thought] luckily I still have my degree.” Kate went on volunteer for a charity called Youth Sport Trust and started going into schools and sharing her story, noting: “actually that's when I started to heal. We're always just spoilt with stories of success and that we don't necessarily always hear the struggles.”
Kate has since gone on to have a successful career in sports journalism: “ I feel very lucky to think that I never planned this part of my life and it's come about as a result of failure. My dream was to become a Paralympic medallist and PE teacher. But I've still been successful so I always have something to aim for.”
Speaking of what success looks like Kate said: “I think when you have a disability or you have a different ability, I try not to just focus on disability because I think when we talk about inclusion… I can't compare myself because I'm not like anybody else.”
“My story is not over yet – I’m learning every step of the way”
Thank you so much to Kate for taking the time to speak with us, you can watch the full recording of her talk on Vimeo.
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