British Paralympic great Dame Sarah Storey retires from international competition ahead of Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games
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Published 09/07/2026 at 06:53 GMT+1
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Great Britain's paralympic legend Dame Sarah Storey has confirmed her retirement from international sport before this summer's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Storey won 19 gold medals in swimming and cycling and now wants to maintain the popularity of Para sport.
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Storey has elected not to take part in the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, which would have been her 10th Games.
Instead, she ends with a British-record 19 Paralympic gold medals to her name and has eschewed the chance to become just the fourth athlete in the world to reach 20 gold medals - a feat no Briton has yet accomplished.
Storey has decided to focus her energy now on reinvigorating Para sport in the United Kingdom and continuing the momentum generated at the 2012 Games in London, which she does not want to see let slip.
She has made the decision ahead of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games - shown live on TNT Sports and HBO Max - which integrates Para sport into the competition schedule.
She said: ”I am so privileged to have spent 35 years as an international athlete. I genuinely pinch myself that my childhood dream of being an athlete for as long as I possibly could has led to nine Paralympic Games and opportunities across so many sporting events.
”This has included women’s and Para sport alike, and I feel so proud to have contributed – alongside so many incredible people – to the progress we’ve all witnessed and enjoyed in that time.
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”There’s also no doubt in my mind that, within Para sport, we have stalled somewhat since London 2012, and the years between each Games haven’t been utilised well enough to create the momentum that I and others hoped to see.
”I see this as a critical stage; there are many areas of Para sport that still need attention, and that is something that has played a big part in my decision.
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"I fully believe that I can have a greater impact off my bike, rather than chasing a tenth Games and possibly further titles.
”I’m excited to be part of a future where we inject the momentum that is needed to ensure the future is bright for all Para athletes.”
Dame Sarah’s 19 Paralympic gold medals were won in swimming and cycling after she made her Games debut in Barcelona in 1992 and four of those golds were won in front of home crowds at London 2012.
She then claimed more titles in Rio, Tokyo, and Paris – winning her last two gold medals at the age of 46.
She added: ”Physically, I fully believe that I could be on that start line in Los Angeles, confident of defending my two titles from Paris.
"However, I believe I can now be a more positive influence leveraging new roles and opportunities that allow me to fight for Para sport, and the coverage that it deserves.”
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