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Already a gold medal-winning Paralympian, Lauren Steadman MBE is on track for further glory at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. It's not only a packed training schedule, but great sleep that gives her the competitive edge she needs to bring home another medal.
3 Min Read
Last Modified 14 August 2024 First Added 14 August 2024
Lauren Steadman’s dreams may have started with an imitation medal at a children’s swimming competition, but today the decorated Paralympian is well versed with the world stage and what it takes to perform there.
From balancing multiple disciplines to a packed training schedule, in this exclusive interview proud Dreams Ambassador Lauren shares how giving her body time for rest and relaxation is helping her to dream big for Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
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‘My earliest memories of my Paralympic dream probably wasn’t until I turned up at my first disability swimming competition. I just remember walking in and seeing all of these incredible swimmers with disabilities and someone said to me, “Did you know about the Paralympics?” I didn’t.
‘I did my race, came in with this little plastic gold medal. And it was at that moment I was like, “I think I want a big one of these.”‘
‘My parents have been huge motivators on most things, so they’re probably still the key figures in my life. But the one lady who’s absolutely phenomenal is Dame Kelly Holmes.
‘I was in a caravan in Cromer, and I watched her do her thing where she got the double gold medals in the 1500 and 800 metres [at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games].
‘I just thought in that one moment, “Wow, what an incredible woman. I want to be like that. I want to do what she’s done.” And she did it so gracefully, and with so much power.’
‘As a child, I was super creative, and I still am. I loved to make everything quite artistic.
‘I think one of the most special memories for me is that my great granddad made all of the furniture in my childhood bedroom; my bunk bed, the chest of drawers, the wardrobe.
‘My bedroom was very girly. There were elements of Groovy Chick running through it! I can remember asking for lime green and purple walls at one point…!’
‘My current bedroom is very, very different to my childhood bedroom.
‘I would say the one thing that I’ve always loved since being a little girl is having a lot of bright light, but there’s definitely no trace of lime green or purple walls anywhere!’
‘I think the best feeling in the world is that moment when you lie back in bed, you pull the duvet over and you’re like, “I can rest.”
‘Days are full on with training, so for me, it’s a space where I can unwind, I can relax.’
‘I think that sleep and performance are exceptionally intertwined and important. For an athlete, we have to unwind, lower the heart rate, recover, muscles need a surge of energy. All the little things you can do actually just help towards having a solid night’s sleep.
‘If I’ve had a good night’s sleep, everyone’s in trouble the next day!’
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