I was born with cerebral palsy. I’ve lived my whole life with it. But I’ve never let the disability stop me from pursuing the things I wanted. From a professional athlete to a mother and a businesswoman, I always strive to succeed, throwing myself into everything and believing in myself to achieve what I want.
This swim or sink mentality comes from my dad. He taught me to swim by taking me out on a dinghy and tossing me into the water. It wasn’t callousness. It was his desire to instil confidence and independence in me.
And being raised in a sporty family helped build my confidence further. Growing up, they never told me I couldn’t do things, never let me feel like I was different. I loved running, so they supported it.
My international sports career as a runner began in 1996 with my mum, dad and dog watching me from the stands. Two years later I won gold for Great Britain at the 1998 World Championships. But the highlight of my career was running a lifetime best in the 200 metres in front of 80,000 people at the 2012 London Paralympics.
I retired from professional sports in 2013, but my work had only just begun. In 2017, with the support of fellow paralympic athletes, I started the Superhero Series — the UK's only disability sports series.
It is an inclusive sporting event where people with disabilities can participate in a wide range of sports, with family and friends if they like, without any equipment restrictions, cut-off times, and all other barriers that often discourage participation. Growing the Series from 220 participants in 2017 to over 5,000 each year is one of my life’s biggest achievements.
Going Electric
I think of myself as an eco-warrior, and recently decided my car needed to reflect my values, so I chose my first ever electric vehicle: the Ford Explorer1.
Like many people, I was hesitant about going electric. I worried about range and the hassle of charging. But I can confidently say most of those worries are imaginary.
My Explorer clearly tells me how far I can go on the current charge, so I’ve never felt anxious about the range. And in the long run, it will be much more cost-effective.
Public fast-charging plugs can be heavy and difficult to handle with one hand. However, I realised the solution is simple: a home charger. The home charger plug is lighter and more manageable with one hand. And it’s available through the Motability Scheme.
The Motability Scheme allows individuals with disabilities in the UK to exchange their mobility allowance for a leased vehicle. The scheme covers insurance, breakdown cover, and much more. It also covers installation of home chargers for electric vehicles acquired through the scheme.
Championing Inclusion
I want to champion inclusion everywhere, from sports to the roads. So, when Ford Motability asked me to attend a recent event, I was eager to take them up on the offer.
It felt to me that the Ford stand was one of the busiest and I believe that’s because it was the only one I could see with ambassadors with disabilities, like the wonderful Jason Richards, there to talk with customers. That real-world understanding goes a long way.
I’m lucky that my disability doesn’t significantly hinder my ability to drive. It's the reason, alongside my sink or swim mentality, why I’ve never made use of the Motability scheme, even though I'm eligible. I just didn’t think I needed it.
But I recently adapted a vehicle for the first time. While not using the Motability scheme, my Explorer had a steering ball fitted and the indicator stalk swapped to the other side by Ergomobility.
The steering adaption in particular has been helpful as it allows drivers with disabilities to steer easily with just one hand. It made me realise what I’d been missing out on. It’s made life so much easier and got me thinking, “Why didn’t I do this earlier?”
That question extends beyond me, to others who maybe don’t realise how a vehicle adapted to suit their needs can make so much difference. I believe the stigma around disability prevents people from using vehicle adaptations or the Motability scheme. Perhaps they see it as a handout, but that view needs to change.
Adaptations are about empowerment, safety, and confidence. They’re about using a bit of smart engineering to unlock freedom on the road.
Whether it’s participating in a triathlon, driving my children down from Nottingham in the Explorer, or organising award-winning sports — my life’s mission is to ensure that disabilities are never equated with a lack of adventure, confidence, and independence.
We all need a little help sometimes, and there is no shame in that. With the right adaptations — whether in sports, cars, or society — everyone can thrive.
Sophia Warner is a former Paralympian, founder of the Superhero Series, and a guest TV presenter.
1 Up to 602 km based on full charge of Explorer RWD extended range. Estimated range using Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP).
