'Balance in Body & Mind is Important to the Life I Lead Now' - Paralympic champion swimmer Ellie Simmonds OBE talks about finding balance after retirement, learning to say no' and why she firmly believes that sport is for all

If you thought Ellie Simmonds would be swapping life in the fast lane for a slower pace when she announced her retirement from competitive swimming three years ago, you’d be mistaken. Because, according to the 29-year-old multiple world record breaker – who captured the hearts of the British public back in 2008 after winning her first Paralympic gold at the tender age of 13 – she’s not ready to slow down yet. In fact, she’s just getting started.

- By Joanna Ebsworth - Photos by Bioglan Supplements

If you thought Ellie Simmonds would be swapping life in the fast lane for a slower pace when she announced her retirement from competitive swimming three years ago, you’d be mistaken. Because, according to the 29-year-old multiple world record breaker – who captured the hearts of the British public back in 2008 after winning her first Paralympic gold at the tender age of 13 – she’s not ready to slow down yet. In fact, she’s just getting started.

‘To be honest, I think I’m busier now than when I was as an athlete’, exclaims Simmonds, who won an incredible five Paralympic golds, eight World Championship golds and 10 European golds before hanging up her professional swimming goggles after the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics. ‘When I was an athlete, my life was very regimented, and I had set a time for where I had to be every morning and afternoon. Whereas now, my work ranges from documentaries and TV shows to corporate events and commentating, so there’s no set routine. Every day is different, so it’s really important for me to strike the right balance between my old life as an athlete and this next chapter of my working life. That’s one of the reasons why I’m involved in the supplement brand Bioglan’s latest In Bioglan Balance campaign,’ she adds, ‘so I can learn ways to take a more holistic approach to my health and wellbeing, and talk with other athletes about how we all find balance. I think there’s so much pressure on all of us from society to always be on the go, and I think we can sometimes forget to take time for ourselves and work out what makes us tick so we can be happy.’